Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani set for massive step towards pitching return
After weeks of pitching progress, Shohei Ohtani is set to reach a new benchmark for the Dodgers this weekend at Citi Field.
While Shohei Ohtani is a good enough baseball player to win NL MVP in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, what truly makes him special is his ability to play both sides of the ball, showing he can pitch and hit at an elite level during his time with the Los Angeles Angels.
And soon, fans will get to see that on-field mastery firsthand once more, as the three-time MVP is further along working back from his UCL injury and is set to throw his first BP against live batters this weekend at Citi Field, as explained by Fox Sports MLB reporter Deesha Thosar.
“Shohei Ohtani will pitch to major-league hitters tomorrow for the first time since 2023,” Thosar wrote. “He’s set to throw a live BP at Citi Field. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said everyone is anxious to see how his stuff plays.”
Though he hasn’t pitched in a game since 2023, Ohtani was as advertised on the mound during his run in Anaheim, holding a 38-19 record with an ERA of 3.01 over 481.2 innings pitched. Ohtani could top 100 MPH with his heater, and has been trying out sliders and curveballs during his bullpen sessions with the Dodgers.