NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani does so many things to marvel at that even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts can’t marvel at them all.
“I do marvel quite often,” Roberts said Saturday at Citi Field. “It’s sort of commonplace now. But when I take a step back, it’s pretty astounding.”
A year ago, Ohtani put together the first 50-50 season in baseball history – all while rehabilitating from a second elbow surgery. This year, he is off to an even better start, just months after undergoing a significant surgery on his left shoulder.
Ohtani dislocated that shoulder during the World Series and underwent arthroscopic surgery days later to repair a labrum tear in the joint. The expectation was that the procedure would not affect his hitting as much as surgery on his right shoulder, the front shoulder in the left-handed hitter’s swing, would. But some players have taken time after shoulder surgery to recover their power.
Ohtani, on the contrary, went into Saturday’s game leading the National League in home runs (17), second only to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (18) in the majors. His .643 slugging percentage is second to teammate Freddie Freeman in the National League.
“It is kind of amazing that this offseason, he had major surgery, to come back and be that productive,” Roberts said. “But he worked really hard this offseason, and he’s having a tremendous season.”
That he would pick up right where he left off last season, despite the shoulder surgery was not immediately evident this spring, Roberts said.
“No, he wasn’t the same Shohei in spring training,” he said. “I think once we got into the season, once we got back to the States after Japan, I thought he kind of really let it go, felt completely strong. I don’t recall one at-bat or anything like that, but I do think that once we came stateside, he took it to another level.”
Ohtani will take his multi-tasking to another level on Sunday when he throws a live batting practice session. It will be his first time throwing to hitters since August 2023, before his Tommy John revision.
“It’s a big step, getting on a mound, facing hitters,” Roberts said. “Obviously – rightfully so – there’s a lot of anticipation. But I think he’s really looking forward to it.”
The live BP is likely to be short. Dalton Rushing and Hyeseong Kim are expected to face Ohtani.
“I think up to this point, he’s checked every box,” Roberts said. “But then you’re talking about really adding velocity, where I think right now it’s been tempered or controlled. You’re talking about throwing a slider to hitters, which he has only done in a bullpen. So those are two other boxes. Up to this point, though, he’s checked the rightful boxes.”
FRESH ARM
The Dodgers made one roster move to shore up their overworked bullpen Saturday. Right-hander Bobby Miller was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City where he was scheduled to start Saturday. Right-hander Matt Sauer (who pitched three innings in Friday’s 13-inning marathon) was optioned to OKC.
Miller made one spot start for the Dodgers earlier this season and pitched poorly, allowing six runs in three innings (though he did strike out seven). He won’t be starting this time around, Roberts said. Miller was just called up to provide length out of the bullpen if needed.
Miller has continued to have command issues at Triple-A. In 35 innings for OKC, he has walked 29 and thrown eight wild pitches.
KOPECH UPDATE
Reliever Michael Kopech made his fifth rehab appearance with OKC on Friday and retired the side in order, striking out one in his inning. Kopech threw nine four-seam fastballs in his 14 pitches, averaging 99.9 mph and topping out at 101.7 mph.
Kopech has had at least two days off between outings so far but is scheduled to pitch again on Sunday, according to Roberts. He will go on back-to-back days before finishing his rehab.
“I think he’s progressing, but I think there’s still a couple, two or three more outings before we see him up here,” Roberts said.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Landon Knack, 2-1, 6.17 ERA) at Mets (RHP Koda Senga, 4-3, 1.43 ERA) Sunday, 4:10 p.m., ESPN, 570 AM