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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts loosely mapped out Shohei Ohtani’s return to pitching after an encouraging bullpen session Friday, Aug. 14.
Ohtani threw 35 pitches during the session, according to Roberts.
"He used his entire mix (of pitches)," Roberts told the media. "He felt encouraged."
Ohtani, 32, hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of inflammation in his left knee.
Roberts said Ohtani will go through one or two more bullpen sessions, followed by live pitching sessions, during which Ohtani will throw to actual hitters. Roberts said he couldn’t see Ohtani doing any fewer than two live sessions before he returns.
"And then I would see him in a major league game," Roberts said.
Roberts indicated he had talked to Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior Friday about the situation.
"He's confident in talking to Shohei, just also watching the 'pen," Roberts said. "So I'm pretty confident that if we stay the course, he'll throw a 'pen in a couple, two, three, four, five days. And then if we get out of that, I think we'll be out of the woods."
Ohtani’s official return to big league pitching would involve his pitching an inning to open games.
The Dodgers previously said they expected Ohtani to pitch again this season but had provided no timeline.
Ohtani had been brilliant on the mound before the knee issue surfaced in June. He’s 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 85 2/3 innings pitched.
He was averaging about six innings per outing.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers pitching return looks more likely. Here's why
Continue reading...
Ohtani threw 35 pitches during the session, according to Roberts.
"He used his entire mix (of pitches)," Roberts told the media. "He felt encouraged."
Ohtani, 32, hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of inflammation in his left knee.
Roberts said Ohtani will go through one or two more bullpen sessions, followed by live pitching sessions, during which Ohtani will throw to actual hitters. Roberts said he couldn’t see Ohtani doing any fewer than two live sessions before he returns.
"And then I would see him in a major league game," Roberts said.
Roberts indicated he had talked to Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior Friday about the situation.
"He's confident in talking to Shohei, just also watching the 'pen," Roberts said. "So I'm pretty confident that if we stay the course, he'll throw a 'pen in a couple, two, three, four, five days. And then if we get out of that, I think we'll be out of the woods."
Ohtani’s official return to big league pitching would involve his pitching an inning to open games.
The Dodgers previously said they expected Ohtani to pitch again this season but had provided no timeline.
Ohtani had been brilliant on the mound before the knee issue surfaced in June. He’s 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 85 2/3 innings pitched.
He was averaging about six innings per outing.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers pitching return looks more likely. Here's why
Continue reading...
