Shohei Ohtani shares major update on his pitching rehab

Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani remains on track to return to the mound in 2025 following an update he gave reporters on Monday.

Per ESPN's Jorge Castillo, Ohtani noted that he recently "started throwing from 60 feet and reached 80 [miles per hour]," a positive development as he rehabs from last September's Tommy John surgery.

"Just continuing to increase the distance and the pitches, and just seeing where that goes. I'm not quite sure how far I'm going to go out there, but that's the progression," Ohtani expanded.

The two-time American League MVP has 86 career starts, going 38-19 with a 3.01 earned run average. Ohtani finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 2022.

He last pitched as a member of the Angels on Aug. 23, 2023, only facing five batters in a 7-3 loss to the Reds before exiting the game with a torn ligament in his elbow.

Despite being unable to pitch this season, his production at the plate has already made his massive 10-year, $700 million contract well worth it.

Through 53 games, Ohtani is hitting .336, the best in the National League, with 13 home runs and an OPS of 1.024, which is also No. 1 in the NL.

Los Angeles has scored 270 runs this season, which only trails the Phillies for the most in baseball.

But it's Ohtani's ability to dominate as a two-way athlete that turned him into a transcendent star, and the Dodgers should get that version of him next season.