Shohei Ohtani is Back
- Aaron Gandia
- Jun 16
- 1 min read
After undergoing an internal brace procedure in September 2023, Shohei Ohtani's future as a pitcher was uncertain. He had already undergone Tommy John surgery in 2018, and coming back from multiple torn UCLs isn't a commonality among pitchers. This didn't stop the Los Angeles Dodgers from signing Ohtani to a record-breaking $700 million contract with the intent to have him as a hitter and a pitcher when he eventually recovers.
As of June 16th, Ohtani is scheduled to make his return to the mound tonight against the San Diego Padres. This comes as a surprise as multiple reports, including pushback from the Dodgers' manager, suggested that Ohtani wouldn't be ready until after the All-Star Break. The change in rushing his recovery timetable can be attributed to the Dodgers having 14 pitchers on the injured list. Also, Ohtani is unable to ramp up in rehab assignments due to hitting every day in the Dodgers lineup. By activating Ohtani, the Dodgers gain an extra pitcher even though the maximum pitchers you can have on the roster is 13 since he is technically on the roster as a hitter.
Ohtani will be pitching 1 to 2 innings tonight in an attempt to build his pitch count while not hampering the Dodgers' beleaguered pitching staff. The return of Ohtani is an encouraging sign for the reigning world champions regardless of whether he's truly ready or not.
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