Shohei Ohtani Prepares to Face Batters in His Recovery
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to face hitters on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in his recovery after right elbow surgery.
The two-way player will participate in a live batting practice session at Citi Field, prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. The news was confirmed by manager Dave Roberts on Friday.
This event represents a crucial step for Ohtani on his road back to the mound. The player underwent right elbow surgery on September 19, 2023, and has not pitched in an MLB game since August 23 of that same year, when he played for the Los Angeles Angels.
Although a definitive date for his debut as a pitcher with the Dodgers has not yet been established, it is expected to be in July.
Roberts indicated that the number of pitches Ohtani will throw on Saturday, nor the Los Angeles teammates he will face, has not yet been defined.
The right-handed pitcher included breaking pitches in a throwing session on Tuesday, marking the first time he has done so during his rehabilitation program. Previously, he had been limited to throwing fastballs and splitters.
Ohtani completed a 50-pitch bullpen session last Saturday, increasing from the 35 pitches of his previous session.
