How dare Soto? Ohtani's 50 home runs, 30 steals, 100K pitching and hitting will resume, and 19 out of 28 ESPN players will be optimistic about MVP

Mar 27, 2025

LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is looking at the ball after hitting a solo home run to right-center in the second of the opening two consecutive games against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on the 19th. AP Yonhap News

Tani Shohei plays a bullpen session with manager Dave Roberts watching at Camelback Ranch on the 26th of last month (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

With LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani deciding to start pitching rehabilitation in earnest with the end of spring training, expectations are rising for his batting performance this season.

Ohtani is scheduled to hold his first bullpen pitching of the season at Dodger Stadium on the 30th (Korea time). Ohtani, who stopped pitching training after his fourth bullpen pitching in spring training at Camelback Ranch on the 26th of last month, will take the mound in the bullpen for the first time in 32 days.

Ohtani plans to continue pitching in practice, the final stage of his rehabilitation for a month in April. However, as a batter, he has to play in pennant race games, so he cannot go down to the minor leagues and take a rehabilitation mound. In the end, the Dodgers intend to replace it with simulation games and live pitching. If everything goes well, he will be able to return in mid-May.

The Dodgers expect Ohtani to make at least 18 to 20 starts this season. Some observers say that the timing of his return could be over to late May or June because the race and postseason stages at the end of the season are more important.

Otani is throwing a bullpen session with Roberts watching on the 26th of last month (Korea time). ImagesYonhap News

Manager Dave Roberts said in an interview with local media on the 25th that `Otani will throw a bullpen session this weekend. to be careful and carefulI'm going to rule. This is because we have to be able to use him at the end of the season, and even in October." This means that you will never overdo it or exhaust the stamina in the first half.

Prior to the weekend bullpen pitching, Ohtani checked his pitching condition by playing catch at Dodger Stadium on the 26th and 27th.

In the midst of this, ESPN surveyed 28 reporters and commentators on the 27th and 19 selected Ohtani as the NL MVP this season. The media outlet said 'Otani will resume his double as a hitter this season. Our panelists picked Ohtani as the most likely MVP candidate this year.

Then 'Otani became MVP without pitching last year. While achieving the first 50-50 in history, he continued his elbow rehabilitation. If it's as fun as you would expect someone else to be MVP this year, well do you want to pick Soto? Over the next five years, the MVP will likely be Ohtani's.' He wrote, "'He'll be pitching at some point this year, and his on-the-mound performance for the Dodgers is just another incredible appendix to everything he does to make himself stand out on the ground.'"

He has already made an unrivaled achievement as a batter last year, which means that if he plays as a pitcher this year, he will only add one achievement.

Otani hits a double in the third inning in an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels on the 26th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

Among the ESPN panels, San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. was expected to be MVP from three, Cincinnati Reds Eli Delacruz and New York Mets Juan Soto each, and Dodgers Mookie Betts and Philadelphia Phillies Trey Turner were expected to be MVP from one each.

The expected record is also interesting.

The fan media Dodgers Nation is ' on the same dayIn an article titled 'Five bold predictions for Juss', Ohtani is expected to have 50 home runs, 30 steals, and 100 strikeouts this season. Ohtani marked 40 home runs, 20 steals, and 100 strikeouts for the first time in major league history in 2023 when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. This year, the figures have been upgraded to the next level, suggesting 50 home runs, 30 steals, and 100 strikeouts.

Dodgers Nation predicted, "'Ohtani, who hit a career-high 54 home runs last year, will shoot another 50 home runs this year, and because he resumes pitching, he can still hit 30 steals even if he can't hit 50 steals.'"

Statistical media FanGraphs predicted that Ohtani will throw 42 home runs, 36 steals, and 119 innings as a pitcher to post 8-5, a 3.62 ERA and 134 strikeouts. Dodgers Nation believes that it hits about 10 more home runs.