Surgeon: Shohei Ohtani Scheduled to Throw Sim Game for Dodgers in September
Shohei Ohtani might not pitch in a game that counts until 2025, but the Dodgers’ two-way star is on track to pitch off a mound in 2024.
In an interview with the Associated Press, team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache said Ohtani is scheduled to begin throwing simulated games in September:
“It just so happens that, if he goes along with the throwing program as we have it scheduled, he’ll be throwing his first simulated game the last week of September. Tommy John’s operation 50 years ago was September 25th, 1974. So Ohtani will be throwing his first sim game 50 years almost to the date of the first Tommy John, which is pretty wild.”
— Dr. Neal ElAttrache, via the Associated Press
At his introductory press conference in December, neither Ohtani nor his agent, Nez Balelo, offered specifics about the exact kind of surgery Ohtani had last September. But the two-way star, as well as team officials, expressed confidence that Ohtani would be in the Dodgers’ lineup on Opening Day and return to pitching in 2025.
The first box will be checked soon.
Ohtani boarded a plane to South Korea along with the rest of the Dodgers on Thursday, in advance of Opening Day on March 20. The Dodgers are scheduled to play two exhibition games in Seoul before playing the San Diego Padres twice next week to kick off MLB’s regular season.
In Cactus League play, Ohtani batted .500 (11 for 22) with two home runs and nine RBIs in eight games. His rehabilitation process as a hitter is complete.
Progress from any elbow surgery is typically slow, and reports of Ohtani’s throwing program have been scarce. But ElAttrache’s timeline suggests the Dodgers will not have to wait until 2025 to see Ohtani off a mound, even if he’s only pitching to teammates between games.
Count it as another sign the Dodgers knew what they were doing when they signed Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract in December.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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