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Dodgers Send 1-Word Message After Major Shohei Ohtani News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joshua Valdez | Last updated May 25, 2025 7:00 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is one of the best hitters in baseball, but that's only half the reason the team handed him a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. The three-time MVP was also a starting pitcher up until he tore his right UCL (elbow ligament) in late August of that year when playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

Ohtani got surgery a month later and didn't pitch in 2024 as a result. The four-time All-Star still dominated in his first season with the Dodgers as a designated hitter, slashing .310/.390/.646 with 54 homers and 130 RBI on the way to winning his first World Series title.

Ohtani has continued that momentum at the plate this year, slashing .296/.390/.631 with 17 homers and 31 RBI through 50 games. The 30-year-old is now inching closer to pitching again as well, and Los Angeles made a celebratory announcement via social media on Sunday.

"Shotime," it captioned a video of Ohtani pitching in batting practice.

This was the 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pounder's first time throwing to live hitters in nearly two years, via ESPN. He threw a six-pitch warmup and then 22 pitches over five plate appearances to Dodgers utility man Hyeseong Kim, catcher Dalton Rushing, and game-planning/communication coach J.T. Watkins.

The session took place at Citi Field before Sunday's game vs. the New York Mets.

Shotime. pic.twitter.com/uGNMNyiLWM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 25, 2025

Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 86 career starts. The six-time All-MLB selection is baseball's first elite two-way player since Babe Ruth.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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