Ohtani is having an MVP-level season as a hitter while also rehabbing from his second elbow surgery and his throwing program has progressed smoothly
ATLANTA – For most of the year, the Dodgers have denied the possibility that Shohei Ohtani would pitch this season – until Dave Roberts opened the door this week to a “not zero” chance that Ohtani returns to the mound during the postseason.
Even that non-zero chance is a product of how smoothly Ohtani’s rehab from a second elbow surgery has been.
Ohtani had the surgery last September, was hitting when the Dodgers reported to Camelback Ranch for spring training in early February and was cleared to start a throwing program when the Dodgers returned from Korea in late March.
That throwing program has progressed every other day with a limited number of throws gradually increasing in distance and intensity. The day after Ohtani hit a walkoff grand slam to become the sixth 40-40 player in baseball history, he threw off a mound for the first time since the surgery.
He has thrown off a mound six times now, increasing his bullpen session to 25 pitches on Saturday in Atlanta and hitting 93 mph. Within the next couple weeks, Ohtani is expected to throw to hitters in a live batting practice.
All of this is going on while he is also having an MVP-level season as a hitter.
“Now he’s rehabbing Tommy John and he goes out and does what he does,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “He’s done a lot of amazing things this year. To have almost the greatest season a hitter can have while all this is going on is pretty remarkable.”
It has been a remarkably smooth process, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior acknowledged.
“Clearly, it’s seamless for him,” Prior said. “I think we’ve all said it – it’s definitely a unique challenge. I think everybody at this point has said any adjective to describe the way he goes about his business. But it’s pretty impressive.
“Maybe it’s a good thing that he has the ability to disconnect, compartmentalize and go hit and do all the things he’s doing on the offensive side. Where normally as pitchers, you’re kind of ingrained with the same monotony. You can kind of get bogged down in some of the – every ache, soreness; good, bad, indifferent throw. Maybe it gives him a chance to actually be free and relaxed. But it’s still pretty impressive.
“He takes everything in stride and he’s very meticulous in what he wants to do and makes sure he puts himself in a position to accomplish that.”
The Dodgers’ plan has been to shut down Ohtani’s throwing program during the postseason. If there is going to be a possibility of Ohtani pitching in the postseason, Roberts acknowledged there would have to be a conversation about changing that.
“We’re all going to circle up, but that’s right,” Roberts said. “We’ll see. We’ll see.”
GLASNOW GONE
After avoiding the media for two days, right-hander Tyler Glasnow’s locker was cleared out Sunday. Even his name plate was taken down.
Roberts confirmed that Glasnow is not with the team.
“I know he flew out. I don’t know where he flew to,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers announced Saturday that Glasnow had been diagnosed with a “sprained elbow” but gave no specifics – a sprain could involve the ulnar collateral ligament, the flexor tendon or the flexor pronator mass. Glasnow had Tommy John surgery to repair the UCL in August 2021.
Roberts said he did not know what the treatment plan is for Glasnow.
“I do know there’s going to be weeks of a shutdown period from throwing and we’ll see where he is at at that point in time,” he said. “So call it the next handful of weeks, there’s going to be no throwing. That’s what I do know.”
REHAB UPDATE
Right-hander Tony Gonsolin’s second rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City did not go as well as his first one.
Gonsolin didn’t make it through three innings Sunday, finishing with 50 pitches thrown in 2 ⅔ innings. He allowed two runs and seven of the 15 batters he faced reached base – five hits (including a double and a triple), a walk and a hit batter.
Veteran reliever Joe Kelly made his second rehab appearance with OKC in that same game. He retired all three batters he faced, striking out two. Kelly is expected to rejoin the Dodgers next week. He is on the Injured List with shoulder inflammation.
ALSO
Left-hander Justin Wrobleski was scratched from his scheduled start with OKC on Saturday. He was in Atlanta with the Dodgers on the taxi squad in case he was needed, Roberts said, and is now returning to OKC.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 6-2, 2.88 ERA) at Braves (LHP Max Fried, 9-9, 3.46 ERA), Monday, 4:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
