GLENDALE, Ariz. — Since signing him 15 months ago, the Dodgers have had visions of Shohei Ohtani’s two-way skills dancing in their heads.
That vision moved a step closer to reality Saturday morning as Ohtani threw his first bullpen session of the spring.
“It is,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I’ve seen him throw a handful of bullpens (while rehabbing last year). But to see him out here in spring training alongside the other pitchers, to see him just as a pitcher in that particular moment, was a reality check for me. It was kind of different seeing him in that context. Seeing other pitchers watch him and ‘dap’ him up after his pen was good to see.”
Ohtani’s session didn’t last long. He made only 14 throws, all fastballs (two-seam or four-seam variety). Roberts said Ohtani’s velocity was 92-94 mph.
“Obviously that’s kind of like a first toe in the water, so to speak,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said.
“I think right now he’s just trying to find some rhythm and some timing. Probably generating a little bit of energy and trying not to put as much stress initially on the arm. … Just kind of feeling some things out.”
After each of his 14 throws, Ohtani looked back at the pitch-tracking technology the Dodgers set up for all bullpen sessions, checking for feedback. He didn’t get much because the Wi-Fi was intermittent.
“He was looking for pitch movements, which unfortunately technology was not necessarily our friend today at times because it was in and out of working,” Prior said. “But that’s what he’s looking for, just trying to get some feedback, some objective feedback on his throw so he can implement it hopefully for the next throw.”
Ohtani’s second Tommy John surgery is now 17 months in the past. Surgery on his left shoulder is much more recent. But Prior said he saw no sign that the November surgery on the non-throwing shoulder had affected Ohtani’s delivery.
“It’s crazy to think that this guy had surgery on his left shoulder in November. He doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat,” Prior said. “There’s not a lot of things that, at least, kind of surprise me. But he looks really good. And that is surprising for a guy who’s had a surgery. I know it’s not his throwing shoulder, but it doesn’t look like his left shoulder has been impacted, at least visually to the naked eye.
“I’m sure he feels stuff here and there. But overall, he looks really good.”
Ohtani’s progression will be a “day-to-day” thing, Prior said. Bullpen sessions will become longer with more of his pitch mix included. Ohtani is not expected to pitch in Cactus League games, but Roberts did say he expects Ohtani to face hitters in some setting before the team leaves for Tokyo.
The team is going to have to get “very creative” to plot Ohtani’s return to the mound in big-league games, Prior acknowledged. Simulated games against Dodgers hitters or minor-leaguers brought in for the occasion will replace the kind of minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment that pitchers not tasked with also being their team’s every-day DH would use to prepare for their comeback.
“It’s unique, never been done,” Prior said. “I guess we’ll kind of find our way through this in the dark a little bit. It’s not like he’s going to go out on a rehab assignment. Not going to put him on the IL for 15 days or whatever to get those things. It’s going to be unique and we’re going to have to do it on the fly.
“We saw what he did last year trying to rehab and hit. That seemed to turn out pretty well, at least on the offensive side of the ball. It’s probably going to be some version of that. … But it’s going to be very unique. It probably won’t be done ever again, but we’re going to try to do our best to be as efficient as possible with the principle of, ‘How do we get him as ready as possible to enter a major league-game once it’s out of our control?’ Once he steps between the lines of a real game, we can’t control the situation. That’ll be ultimately the principle that guides this whole thing is making sure that he’s 100 percent ready to go out there and let the game dictate what happens and he’s in a position to handle that physically, mentally and emotionally.”
NLCS NIGHTMARE
A name from the Dodgers’ recent playoff past is in their clubhouse now. Veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario has signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to big-league camp.
Rosario, 33, was the NLCS MVP in 2021 when the Atlanta Braves eliminated the Dodgers in six games. He went 14 for 25 against the Dodgers with a double, a triple, three home runs and nine RBIs.
In three seasons since then, he hasn’t recaptured that glory. He has batted .221 with a .649 OPS and was released by both the Washington Nationals, New York Mets and Braves last season.
FREDDIE UPDATE
First baseman Freddie Freeman said he was “almost a full player” in Saturday’s workout. Recovering from ankle surgery following last season, Freeman did take ground balls and batting practice on the field Saturday.
“I did everything except for running,” he said. “I’m currently at 80 percent of my weight on the boost treadmill. I think I have four more days of that, getting closer to 100 percent of my body weight. So I’m shooting for outdoor running middle of next week.”
Freeman said he is “perfectly on track” to be in the lineup when the Dodgers open the season in Tokyo on March 18.