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Shohei Ohtani Could Return to Pitching Sooner Than Anticipated
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is making enough progress in his recovery from 2023 Tommy John surgery that he could pitch sooner than expected, manager Dave Roberts announced. Roberts said that the chances of Ohtani pitching before his post-All-Star break timeline are "north of zero," per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Both Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior came away encouraged from Ohtani's three-inning simulated game on Tuesday. Ohtani hasn't taken a major league mound since August 2023, but the two-way superstar has continued to make an enormous impact as a hitter. The Los Angeles Times' Jack Harris reported on Tuesday that Ohtani threw 44 pitches over three simulated innings, including 23 in his last inning, before the game at Petco Park against the Padres. He allowed a ground-ball single, one walk and had six strikeouts while inducing 15 total whiffs against a few minor-league hitters.
Source: Fabian Ardays - The Athletics
Source: Fabian Ardays - The Athletics
