Can we see pitcher Ohtani now? I will play live pitching and Kim Hye-sung tomorrow against my colleagues. My goal for the second half is realistic

May 25, 2025

Can we see pitcher Ohtani now? I will play live pitching and Kim Hye-sung tomorrow against my colleagues. My goal for the second half is realistic
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is throwing a bullpen session with pitching coach Mark Prior watching at Dodger Stadium on the 22nd (Korea time). On the day, Ohtani threw a maximum 95-mile fastball and used sliders and curves for the first time since his rehabilitation. ImagesYonhap News



Can we see pitcher Ohtani now? I will play live pitching and Kim Hye-sung tomorrow against my colleagues. My goal for the second half is realistic
LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is turning after striking out in the eighth inning in an away game against the New York Mets on the 25th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is rushing to return to the pitcher, will pitch the same as the real game.

Ohtani decided to pitch live ahead of the final three consecutive away games against the New York Mets at Queens City Field, New York, on the 26th (Korea time). "Pitch live batting practice" refers to pitching in which a batter is placed on the mound and thrown as if it were a real game. It is a practice pitch that throws strength and concentration to the next level rather than bullpen pitching.

Originally, Ohtani was scheduled to pitch live on the 25th, but the first game of the three consecutive games against the Mets was suspended for 98 minutes due to rain during the third inning and then extended to the 13th inning, delaying the day for Ohtani's stamina.




Ohtani plans to pitch against fellow hitters such as Kim Hye-sung, Dalton Rushing, Miguel Rojas, Michael Confoto and Kike Hernandez in the live pitching session.

It is the first time in a year and nine months that Ohtani has pitched in real life since he ended the season with an elbow injury in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 24, 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani received Tommy John Surgery in September of that year, and after moving to the Dodgers last year, he continued pitching rehabilitation throughout the season and stopped after injuring his left shoulder in the World Series. And pitching rehabilitation, which went back to square one after undergoing shoulder surgery, started again after the opening of this year's regular season and is now in the actual stage.

Can we see pitcher Ohtani now? I will play live pitching and Kim Hye-sung tomorrow against my colleagues. My goal for the second half is realistic
Clayton Kershaw is approaching when Shohei Ohtani threw a bullpen session on the 22nd (Korea time). ImagesYonhap News
Of course, it is still difficult to accurately determine when Ohtani will return to the big league mound. However, since the Dodgers make it clear that Ohtani should take the mound at the end of the season and in the postseason, he is expected to take the big league mound after sufficient practice and rehabilitation.




In this regard, manager Dave Roberts said in an interview with MLB Network reporter Ken Rosenthal on the 24th that `In reality, I think it will be after the All-Star break.'

Roberts also said of Ohtani's recent bullpen pitching `"The ball seems fine. Arrests are coming out 94, 95 miles. Rehabilitation pitching is very good. "Now I'm looking forward to seeing how it will look against hitters. As much as he said he would pitch as if it were a real game, I'm waiting for Seolje with my heart. It is entirely a schedule and program decided by Ohtani himself. If he throws sliders to hitters, wouldn't he want to increase his speed. Ohtani himself and the medical team will decide."

Ohtani, who has mainly thrown fastballs, splitters, and sinkers, expanded his pitch by mixing bullpen pitching sliders and curves on the 22nd. In other words, being able to throw a breaking ball that needs to be rotated, whether it's horizontal or paper, means that his rehabilitation condition has reached a stage where his elbow is not too much.




Can we see pitcher Ohtani now? I will play live pitching and Kim Hye-sung tomorrow against my colleagues. My goal for the second half is realistic
Otani and head coach Dave Roberts are making high-fives vowing to win ahead of the Arizona match on the 22nd (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
Dodgers President Andrew Friedman recently told MLB.com that he has been particularly cautious since undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. In order to increase the intensity of pitching, it is necessary to check whether your body condition has reached that level. Ohtani is completely out of his shoulder injury, which is hard to predict, but I can say that he is moving forward little by little."

Ohtani does not do rehabilitation pitching by going down to the minor leagues before taking the big league mound. This is because he has to continue playing as a designated hitter. In other words, instead of playing in minor league games, he plans to play simulated games or live pitching several times. "Otani is very good at controlling his body," Roberts said.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.