Shohei Ohtani faces hitters for first time since surgery

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani faced hitters for the first time in nearly two years during a live batting practice session at Citi Field on Sunday afternoon. This marked a significant step in his recovery from a second elbow reconstruction surgery.

After a six-pitch warmup, Ohtani threw 22 pitches over five plate appearances to Dodgers utility man Hyeseong Kim, catcher Dalton Rushing, and game-planning coach Mike Boulanger, who volunteered to hit since Ohtani preferred not to face a right-handed-hitting teammate.

“I’ve gotten so used to seeing him as a hitter,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So, to see him on the mound just solely as a pitcher, it was different and certainly exciting for all of us.”

Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior observed Ohtani’s fastball velocity fluctuated between 94 and 95 mph, reaching 97 mph at times. Ohtani delivered a mix of four-seam fastballs, sinkers, cutters, two sweepers, and a splitter, showcasing his abilities in his first live mound action since August 2023.

“It was a big jump today,” Roberts said. “Not surprised because the competitor still comes out. You still want to get guys out.”

Looking ahead, Prior stated that decisions regarding Ohtani’s next live practice session will hinge on his recovery. He noted the return to game action is still a process that will require patience.

“There’s no definitive anything,” Prior said. “Every day’s different for him. It’s a process. But it’s going to be some time.”

Ohtani’s recovery is unique as he continues to hit as the Dodgers’ designated hitter and leads the National League with 17 home runs while batting .302 with a 1.040 OPS. The team needs to manage his workload effectively on both sides of the game.

The session drew attention from teammates, coaches, and numerous Japanese reporters. Ohtani completed the practice by walking Watkins on five pitches, with teammates reacting joyfully to his performance.

“Everything looked real,” Rushing noted after batting against Ohtani. “It was getting on you, as it always has.”

Ohtani underwent a significant elbow reconstruction surgery last September, which was his second such procedure since 2018. Two months later, he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. His performance as a hitter remains stellar, crucial for the team’s offense, especially given the pitching staff’s struggles with injuries.

“If it kind of works out as it should, he’s a top-end starter,” Roberts said. “And that’s kind of all of our expectations.”