ドジャース 大谷おおや翔しょう平たいら 日本にっぽん時間じかんあす実戦じっせん形式けいしきの投球とうきゅう練習れんしゅうで登板とうばんへ

Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, who aims to return as a two-way player in MLB, will pitch in a simulated game on the 24th.

It’s been about a year and nine months since Ohtani last pitched to a batter.

Two years ago, Ohtani underwent his second surgery to repair the ligament in his right elbow, and this season, he is aiming to return as a two-way player, both pitching and hitting.

Since late March, he has been continuously practicing pitching in the bullpen, and on the 17th of this month, he threw 50 pitches—the most since his right elbow surgery—assuming a two-inning scenario. On the 21st, he also threw sliders and curveballs, which are said to put a heavy burden on the elbow, for the first time since the surgery, gradually ramping up the steps toward his return.

On the 23rd, Dodgers manager Roberts spoke to the media before the game against the Mets in New York and revealed that as the next step toward Ohtanis return as a pitcher, he is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session before the game on the 24th.

Manager Roberts indicated that it will still take a few more months before he returns to actual games as a pitcher, but said, After discussing with Shohei and the trainers, we decided to have him participate in simulated game practice.

He easily clocked his fastball at 151 to 152 km/h, and the quality of his pitches is also excellent.

What kind of pitch does it look like to the batter? Everyone is looking forward to it, he said with growing anticipation.

It is still undecided who the batter he will face will be, but this will be the first time Ohtani pitches to a batter since the game against the Reds on August 23, two years ago, when he was with the Angels—about a year and nine months ago—and it will be his first time since joining the Dodgers.

Before the game on this day, Ohtani also went out onto the field to play catch and checked his pitching feel by mixing in breaking balls like sliders and splitters.

He also appeared relaxed, smiling and chatting with his teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Mets pitcher Kodai Senga, who is scheduled to start on the 25th.