The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a robust season thus far in 2025, however they may have much more reinforcements coming their approach as they get able to make a playoff push and defend their World Collection title.
In the intervening time, the Dodgers lead the NL West with a 42-29 report regardless of accidents to a variety of their pitchers. Whereas they navigate a few of these accidents, they’re nonetheless ready on Shohei Ohtani to return to the mound after recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure.
Ohtani is making progress in his rehab and restoration, and has began throwing stay batting apply as he continues to ramp up. Nevertheless, his return should still be fairly a methods away, in accordance with Bob Nightengale of USA At present.
“The Dodgers are inspired, and awfully tempted, however aren’t planning to make use of Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher till after the All-Star break,” Nightengale reported.
Ohtani was as soon as top-of-the-line pitchers in all of baseball throughout his time with the Los Angeles Angels, so the Dodgers might be eagerly awaiting his return. He has nonetheless been impacting the sport on the plate whereas recovering from the damage, however with the ability to pitch maximizes his immense worth.
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The reigning NL MVP nonetheless hasn’t pitched for the Dodgers in his profession since signing there earlier than the 2024 season, however he has been unquestionably one of many two greatest hitters in baseball throughout that point. Throughout his unbelievable 2024 marketing campaign, the Japanese celebrity crushed 54 dwelling runs to go together with 130 RBIs whereas stealing 59 luggage.
He is not fairly on the identical tempo this yr, however he’s nonetheless one of many largest bats on the earth. In 69 video games this season, the 30-year outdated has 25 dwelling runs to steer the Nationwide League to associate with 41 RBIs.
Ohtani is heating up on the proper time for the Dodgers and is coming off of a monster recreation on Saturday night time in opposition to the San Francisco Giants. He smashed a pair of dwelling runs to provide him 250 for his profession, and likewise walked twice on his option to scoring three runs.
At any time when Ohtani returns to the mound for the Dodgers, it is going to be an enormous bonus for them. Nevertheless, he’s nonetheless giving them loads of elite manufacturing with the bat day in and time out.