Shohei Ohtani reached a significant milestone on Friday night, and the momentum continued with even bigger news on Saturday. Currently in recovery from his second Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last September, Ohtani took a crucial step forward by stepping onto a pitching mound and delivering pitches for the first time since the procedure.
This development marks a critical phase in his rehabilitation and has huge implications for his future.
The timing couldn’t be more significant for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who made headlines by signing Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract this past winter. The Dodgers certainly didn’t make that investment for him to be just a designated hitter; they signed him for his unparalleled ability as a two-way player—a talent that revolutionized baseball during his time with the Los Angeles Angels.
While Ohtani is widely regarded as one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball, his value skyrockets when he’s also on the mound. As a pitcher, Ohtani’s numbers speak volumes. In 86 career starts, he boasts a 38-19 record with a 3.01 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and an impressive 608 strikeouts against just 173 walks over 481 2/3 innings. His 2022 season was particularly remarkable, where he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings. If Ohtani can return to anything close to that level of dominance on the mound while continuing to crush the ball at the plate, his $700 million contract might start to look like a steal.
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Even without pitching, Ohtani is the frontrunner for the National League MVP Award this season, and for good reason. He’s currently slashing .292/.378/.614 with a .992 OPS, 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and 92 RBIs. These are elite numbers for any player, but for someone who also has the potential to be an ace pitcher, they’re almost unimaginable. Once he’s back to pitching, those stats could become even more extraordinary.
Ohtani’s return to the mound is a hopeful sign for the Dodgers and baseball fans everywhere. His ability to excel both as a hitter and a pitcher is what makes him one of the most unique and valuable players in the history of the sport.
As he continues his recovery, the baseball world will be eagerly watching, knowing that when Ohtani is back to full strength, he could redefine the limits of what a single player can achieve.
