Shohei Ohtani might save the Dodgers’ season- surprise return to pitching stuns MLB

Shohei Ohtani is already among the scariest hitters in baseball. Now, the Los Angeles Dodgers sensation is preparing to take the mound again. He has not thrown against live hitters on the mound since undergoing elbow surgery more than 640 days ago.

But Sunday, before a game against the New York Mets, Shohei Ohtani threw 22 pitches to five batters in a simulated game. The Dodgers coaches and players monitored the effort carefully. This may indicate that he could soon be back to pitching in actual games.

Shohei Ohtani amazes coaches and teammates on mound

Shohei Ohtani threw mostly fastballs, cutters, and sinkers. He also mixed in two sweepers. His fastball speed reached up to 97 mph. This performance showed he still has great stuff even after a long break.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it felt exciting to see Shohei Ohtani on the mound again. “We’re used to him as a hitter, so this was different and exciting,” Roberts said.

Shohei Ohtani himself was happy to pitch again. “It felt nice to feel like a pitcher,” he said through his interpreter. Pitching coach Mark Prior said Shohei Ohtani looked healthy and confident. He added that Shohei Ohtani’s pitch movement was sharp and that he seemed strong and ready.

These are all good signs that he might return to real games soon.Also Read: Shohei Ohtani Enters Exclusive Dodgers Club With 20th Homer—Questions Swirl Around His Pitching Future

Dodgers need help and Shohei Ohtani could be that answer

The Dodgers are atop their division, but their pitching corps is hurting. Three of their most important starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki are out due to injury. That has caused pitching to be a major issue for the team. Bringing Shohei Ohtani back on the mound as a pitcher could make a huge difference.Shohei Ohtani is the league's sole two-way player. He has already hit 20 home runs this year and is the league leader among hitters. If he can pitch regularly every five days, the Dodgers will be much more formidable. For his career, Shohei Ohtani has a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts. If he remains healthy, he could be the key to the Dodgers winning another World Series this year.