It’s happening.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are very soon going to have Shohei Ohtani back on an MLB mound, possibly as soon as this week.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Sunday night that there’s a “high possibility” that Ohtani pitches this week in the majors.
If it happens, Roberts said, it’ll likely be as the opener during a game in the Padres series that begins Monday night and runs through Thursday.
An opener role would likely see Ohtani last an inning or maybe two, depending on how efficiently he throws and what the Padres do at the plate.
It’s a way for him to get back into MLB action while also keeping Ohtani around to be in the batting lineup.
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Because of rule changes MLB made in recent years to essentially benefit Ohtani, he can stay in the game as a DH even after he’s removed from the mound. And given his power-speed prowess, that’s a huge benefit for the Dodgers.
It had seemed for a while like the Dodgers might not bring Ohtani back into MLB pitching until after the All-Star Break, which would be almost two years since he had Tommy John surgery.
But because they couldn’t really afford to send Ohtani on a rehab assignment because they’d lose his bat, it became tough to picture out the return.
Opener appearances in MLB games while still getting to be in the batting order seem to be the best solution.
And within a few games, Ohtani might finally take an MLB mound in Dodgers blue. That’ll be quite the sight.
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