![\"Shohei](\"https:\/\/external-preview.redd.it\/shohei-ohtani-still-a-couple-months-away-from-pitching-for-v0-TSITfuvZvgqwM1H8novA8UqcijcshXnhvP59Yqz0GOM.jpg?auto=webp&s=c08fc0f3702928304d676871ec513f60ff69afed\")
<\/p>\nFor as prolific as Shohei Ohtani is as a hitter, Dodgers fans have yet to see him throw a pitch in Dodger Blue.<\/p>\n
Over his decorated career, Ohtani is 38-19 on the mound with a career ERA of 3.01. Per nine innings, he averages a whopping 11.4 strikeouts.<\/p>\n
A power fastball sitting in the high 90s is complemented primary by a cutter and a sweeper \u2014 though Ohtani also has a splitter, sinker, and traditional curveball to go to.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As one recalls, Ohtani spent all of last year recovering from the elbow surgery he underwent in September of 2023.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers have understandably been immensely cautious in helping Ohtani return to the form he once demonstrated as one of the best starters within the American League.<\/p>\n
Manager Dave Roberts appeared on The Jim Rome Show last week. Rome had mentioned that Ohtani recently threw his third bullpen session last weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Ohtani] looked great. It\u2019s easy velocity. And this guy, he\u2019s a unicorn. He is physical, he is big. He\u2019s throwing his fastball \u2014 four-seam, two-seamer, his splitter, he\u2019s kind of easy 92-93 [MPH]. He\u2019s got a light bullpen today. He\u2019s got a full one Saturday. Hopefully soon he\u2019ll start facing some hitters.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In terms of a timetable on when he\u2019d be back pitching, Roberts said it\u2019s going to be a while.<\/p>\n \u201cTime of return, we\u2019re still at a couple of months away,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI know that\u2019s still vague. We\u2019re just trying to get to the next step and see where we\u2019re at. Certainly expect him to pitch for us this year and through the postseason.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s paramount that Ohtani does not re-injure his surgically-repaired elbow.<\/p>\n With the depth the Dodgers have intentionally accrued, it\u2019s enabled Ohtani to slowly build up strength and confidence in his pitching arm.<\/p>\n Once fully healthy, he figures to be a major piece of the Dodgers\u2019 pitching puzzle moving forward<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For as prolific as Shohei Ohtani is as a hitter, Dodgers fans have yet to see him throw a pitch in Dodger Blue. Over his decorated career,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55108,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n