Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani took a significant step in his recovery process by throwing off a mound on Saturday. This marked his first time pitching since undergoing elbow surgery last year, which has sidelined him from pitching this season.
While Ohtani has been unable to showcase his pitching prowess, he has been making waves with his exceptional batting skills. In a remarkable feat, Ohtani reached 40 home runs by hitting a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning and achieved 40 stolen bases with a swipe in the fourth inning during a recent game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Japanese sensation has etched his name in the record books as the fastest player in major league history to join the exclusive 40-40 club, becoming its sixth member in just 126 games of the season.
Ohtani's bullpen session at Dodger Stadium, where he threw 10 pitches, drew significant attention from the media. The surgery last September was necessitated by an elbow injury he sustained while playing for the Los Angeles Angels. Subsequently, Ohtani signed a lucrative $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.
Despite the positive progress in his recovery, the team has made it clear that Ohtani will not be taking the mound this season, including in any potential postseason games. Instead, he has been contributing as a designated hitter for the team.
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