Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani "looked great" Wednesday throwing off a mound for the first time since having Tommy John surgery in October.
“It felt really comfortable," Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (via MLB.com). "It felt good to get on there again. As long as my arm reacts well, I’ll keep on throwing, keep on going back out there. I have to see how it reacts (Thursday)."
Shohei Ohtani throwing off the mound for the first time since Tommy John surgery pic.twitter.com/LezraQ7Q5Y
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) June 26, 2019
With pitching coach Doug White looking on, Ohtani threw only fastballs at what he said was 50 percent effort, leaving White happy with the first mound session.
"He looked great,” White said. “It's very low intensity, trying to feel the slope of the mound. But he looked great. He always knows what he wants to do. He always knows how he wants to feel, and the process with which he's going to get it done. It's nice to see."
Ohtani is scheduled to throw off a mound again Saturday. The plan is get him through his rehab this season so that he can have a regular offseason heading into next year.
Still, in the wake of Wednesday's flawless session — in the final week of June, before the All-Star break, with still more than three months to go in the regular season, as ESPN.com noted — is there a shot he could return to pitch in 2019?
"No chance," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said with a smile, restating what has long been established, regardless of Ohtani's progression.
Ohtani, 24, was activated from the injured list May 7 as a designated hitter only and is slashing .277/.339/.490 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs in 41 games.
“Mentally, I think I was able to handle (being sidelined as a pitcher) better than other players, because I’ve been hitting every day,” Ohtani said. “That helps me mentally get through it compared to other people that can’t do anything.”
According to the Orange County Register, Ohtani, who has been throwing since spring training, took a planned break earlier this month and resumed throwing a few days ago. Ausmus says the team plans to continue Ohtani’s rehab program, which includes four days of throwing per week.
The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year, Ohtani made 10 starts as a pitcher, going 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings, and batted .285/.361/.564 with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs.
He joined Babe Ruth as the only MLB players with 10 pitching appearances and 20 homers in a season.
The two-way star underwent elbow ligament transplant surgery after the season, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, and missed the first 34 games of the 2019 season.
