Dodgers’ Mark Prior Provides Insight Into Shohei Ohtani’s Pause in Throwing Progression
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a talent that the baseball world hasn’t seen the likes of in about a century.
Shohei Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP and the first ever player to hit 50 or more home runs and steal 50 or more bases in a single season, is making his long-awaited return to the mound in 2025.
However, it just might take a little more time for Dodgers fans to see Ohtani pitch.
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The initial plan back, which was revealed at February’s DodgerFest, was to see Ohtani make his first major league pitche since 2023 sometime in May, said manager Dave Roberts.
Recent developments have slowed down Ohtani’s mound return as Roberts said he wanted to “slow-play” the return so the three-time MVP could focus more on his hitting.
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior was able to provide more insight as to what the “slow-play” really means and the complexities of the situation.
“It’s been one of those things where … we’re having to lean on him a lot,” Prior said Friday, via The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. “We don’t really have this template or road map or even experience really dealing with a guy with a two-way situation. So we’re leaning on him, on how he’s feeling. I know they’re trying to control overall workload management with his left shoulder, coming back from that (surgery). The hitting, getting ready for the season – clearly, he’s an important part of our offensive side of the ball.”
The other shoulder surgery in question — on his non-throwing shoulder — was suffered during Game 2 of the World Series and repaired a torn labrum after an attempt to steal second base.
“I think right now, there’s a little bit of a shift towards making sure he’s dialed in, ready to go, from a DH standpoint,” said Prior. “It was going to get a little weird, you know, in Japan, just because of the days off and workouts and stuff like that. So I think this was a good time to just kind of like de-load and make sure he’s geared up, ready to go, and then continue to throw and then gear up once we get back.”
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Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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