Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani practices for a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024.
13:19 JST, August 25, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani threw from the mound for the first time Saturday since undergoing elbow surgery last year that has kept the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar from pitching this season.
Ohtani is rehabilitating his pitching arm while making history with his bat, reaching 40 home runs with a two-out, ninth-inning grand slam and 40 stolen bases with a fourth-inning swipe Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Japanese sensation became the fastest player in Major League history to become the sixth member of the 40-40 club, doing so in his 126th game of the season.
Ohtani threw 10 pitches from the bullpen at Dodger Stadium, watched closely by a gaggle of media. He underwent surgery last September after injuring his elbow while with the Los Angeles Angels. Three months later, he joined the Dodgers on a $700 million, 10-year contract.
The team has stressed that Ohtani will not pitch at all this season, including in the playoffs.
Ohtani played as a designated hitter this season.
