Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Makes Progress in Throwing Program

Ricardo Sandoval | Apr 4, 2024

Apr 2, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is making progress in his throwing program. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register had the latest update in Ohtani's every-other-day regimen:

#Dodgers Shohei Ohtani continued his every-other-day throwing program today. 50 throws from approximately 60 feet on flat ground

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 2, 2024

This is fantastic news for the 29-year-old superstar, who is recovering from a tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Ohtani suffered the injury in late August, which ended his 2023 pitching season and led him to undergo an Internal Brace procedure, a hybrid form of the traditional Tommy John surgery, a month later.

Ohtani was scheduled to begin his throwing program in late March. He's progressing slowly, making about 50 throws from approximately 60 feet on flat ground.

Shohei Ohtani is playing some light catch today. Second time we’ve seen him throwing post-TJ surgery pic.twitter.com/fYYv9eTNMI

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) March 29, 2024

The three-time All-Star isn't expected to pitch during the 2024 season. However, he is projected to be an ace in the Dodgers' starting rotation in 2025 alongside Tyler Glasnow and fellow Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

If his rehab progress goes well, we could see the two-way superstar in the outfield later this season. In the meantime, he will continue his throwing program and continue to crush it as the team's everyday DH.

Through nine games, Ohtani is slashing .270/.317/.432 with a .750 OPS. His season got off to a slow start, but that was somewhat predictable coming off major surgery. In spring training he slashed .393/.500/.714 across 11 games. Ohtani is a monster on the mound and at the plate when healthy.

Soon enough, Ohtani's offensive numbers will catch up to his production from years past.