Shohei Ohtani’s status as a mere mortal for the Los Angeles Dodgers this year has been pronounced. Relatively, that is.
The 30-year-old leads all of Major League Baseball, alongside Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, in home runs. He’s second in total bases, third on OPS and tied for third in WAR. Ohtani has continued to put up numbers few in baseball could match.
Still, turn on a television set or check your favorite Dodgers blog and you likely will find fans, skeptics and talking heads speak of how Ohtani is not living up to his 10-year, $700-million contract. They may admit it’s not his fault, but it is a common saying.
And it’s because Ohtani isn’t pitching. The most successful two-way player since Babe Ruth has not thrown off of a mound in a game since August 23, 2023. He underwent elbow surgery for a torn UCL a few weeks later and has been the aforementioned mortal ever since.
Shohei Ohtani works Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness during spring training.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
On Tuesday, Ohtani took a major step toward making that return, throwing breaking pitches for the first time in a throwing session since the injury.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani would soon face live batters for the first time since that September surgery. But as for when the return date would be official, it’s still a ways off.
“I really wish I had an answer [on when it will be],” Roberts said. “I’m just waiting for the green light from people that are sort of managing Shohei’s rehab.”
Initial projections suggested Ohtani would return to pitching around the All-Star break. Tuesday’s step showed that timetable remains likely.
In the meantime, 13 different players have made a start for the Dodgers this year. Los Angeles’ lead in the National League West is down to one game over the San Francisco Giants after snapping a four-game losing skid Tuesday night.
