Additional Coverage:
- Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani throws off a mound for 1st time since elbow surgery last fall (newsbreak.com)
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani, the celebrated player of the Los Angeles Dodgers, practiced pitching from a mound on Saturday, the first such session since his elbow surgery last year. This injury had previously sidelined him from his pitching duties this season.
Ohtani, while unable to pitch, has continued to dazzle in his role as a designated hitter, marking a significant milestone recently. He blasted his 40th home run of the season in a dramatic grand slam during the ninth inning and stole his 40th base earlier in the game on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Japanese star has swiftly become the fastest player to achieve the prestigious 40-40 status in major league history, accomplishing this feat in his 126th game of the season.
During his rehabilitation, Ohtani was observed throwing a brief 10-pitch session in Dodger Stadium, under the watchful eyes of numerous media members. His move to the Dodgers came after a shift from the Los Angeles Angels, following his surgery in September. The Dodgers had secured Ohtani with a whopping $700 million deal over ten years three months post-surgery.
Despite his recovery progress, the Dodgers have officially stated that Ohtani will not be returning to the pitcher’s mound throughout the remainder of the season, including the postseason games. He will continue to participate exclusively as a designated hitter.
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