LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani made a significant step in his recovery journey as he threw off a mound on Saturday for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery last year. The surgery has prevented the Los Angeles Dodgers star from pitching this season. Ohtani has been focusing on rehabbing his pitching arm while also making headlines with his batting performance. He made history by hitting his 40th home run with a two-out, grand slam in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Additionally, he reached 40 stolen bases with a swipe in the same game on Friday night.
The Japanese athlete has become the sixth player in major league history to join the exclusive 40-40 club, accomplishing this milestone in his 126th game of the season. Ohtani took the mound at Dodger Stadium and threw 10 pitches in the bullpen, attracting a crowd of media observing his progress. He underwent surgery last September following an elbow injury while playing for the Los Angeles Angels. Later, he signed with the Dodgers on a notable $700 million, 10-year contract.
It has been emphasized by the team that Ohtani will not be pitching at any point during this season, including in the postseason. Instead, he has been contributing as a designated hitter for the team. This development marks a positive step forward in Ohtani’s recovery process and has generated considerable interest among fans and media alike.
