Shohei Ohtani (31) of the Los Angeles Dodgers is set to make his second live pitching appearance.
Ohtani was selected as the designated hitter in the game against the New York Yankees on Oct. 31 (Korean time) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, where he recorded 5 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. He hit his 21st and 22nd home runs of the season, maintaining his position as the sole leader in home runs across both leagues.
Last year, he shared the Most Valuable Player award across both leagues, and Aaron Judge (Yankees), who faced him in the World Series, also started as the right fielder batting second, recording 5 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored, hitting his 19th home run of the season. Both Judge and Ohtani hit home runs in their first at-bats in the first inning, creating a spectacle where both of last year's MVP award winners hit home runs in the same game and inning.
After his remarkable performance, Ohtani revealed the schedule for his second live pitching during a post-game interview. He is set to conduct live pitching before the home game against the Yankees on Nov. 1. Japanese media outlet Sports Hochi reported, "It has been confirmed that Ohtani will conduct live pitching before the home game against the Yankees." Ohtani said, "I want to manage my condition properly for tomorrow's live pitching."
Ohtani is a two-way superstar with a career batting average of .282 over 930 Major League games (3,340 at-bats, 943 hits), hitting 247 home runs, recording 604 RBIs, scoring 623 runs, stealing 156 bases, and achieving an OPS of .953; he has pitched in 86 games (481⅔ innings) with a record of 38 wins, 19 losses, and an earned run average of 3.01. He has electrified baseball fans worldwide by showcasing the two-way talent that had virtually disappeared since Babe Ruth in modern baseball.
However, Ohtani has not appeared in a Major League game since Aug. 24, 2023, against Cincinnati due to undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023. Originally, he was expected to return as a pitcher earlier in the season, but a late-season return was delayed after he sustained an injury while stealing a base in the second game of the World Series last year.
Ohtani is making steady progress toward his return in the second half of the season. He completed his first live pitching session before the Mets' away game on Oct. 26. Ohtani pitched a total of 22 pitches against coaches Kim Hye-seong, Dalton Rushing, and J.T. Watkins, recording 1 inning with 1 hit allowed, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. His maximum speed reached 97 miles per hour (156.1 km/h).
He is now set to begin his second live pitching appearance. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "It’s the first step in the right direction. We're steadily moving forward. Ohtani's expectations are growing as well," viewing Ohtani's rehabilitation progress positively. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed Ohtani's surgery, also stated, "He looks really good. Everything is going smoothly."
Ohtani, who is expected to return as a pitcher in the second half after the All-Star break, smiled when asked about his return schedule, saying, "I don’t know. I hope you ask the Director General."
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