Audio By Carbonatix
Shohei Ohtani is the greatest player in MLB history. He is a unicorn.
The 31-year-old continues to make history every time he steps out on the field.
Although Ohtani’s return to two-way stardom has been a slow burn, every single outing over the last few weeks has been a reminder of just how dominant he can be on both sides of the ball. Major League Baseball has never seen anyone else like him.
Shohei Ohtani the pitcher is back!
Ohtani suffered two major injuries while pitching for the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. Not only did he suffer from a severe sprain of his oblique, he tore the UCL in his throwing arm.
Recovery from Tommy John surgery typically takes between 12 and 18 months for MLB pitchers. They can usually start to throw around month five. They often throw from a mound after nine or 10 months with a return to live batters around the one-year mark.
The Dodgers took it slow with Ohtani because of his status as a two-way player. There was no need to rush him back to the mound when he is just as valuable at the plate.
He started throwing at the beginning of the year. He started throwing his slider and curveball at the end of May. His first live batting practice took place not too long thereafter.
Shohei Ohtani got into a game for the first time in more than two years on June 16 with just one inning. Los Angeles let him go four against St. Louis on Wednesday.
From the mound to the batter’s box…
Major League Baseball had two-way players during the very early days. They mostly disappeared by the beginning of the Live Ball Era in 1920. There are a few outliers, like Rene Monteagudo, Fumio Fujimura and Brooks Kieschnick, but they did not do what Ohtani is currently doing.
He threw 54 pitches against the Cardinals, allowing two hits and one earned run with eight strikeouts. The 31-year-old also went 1-for-4 at the plate.
Ohtani at one point recorded a strikeout to end one half inning before he then served as the leadoff hitter in that next half inning. To watch him transition from one role to the other is a work of art.
It makes it even cooler that he doesn’t even bother to go into the dugout.
Appreciate these kinds of little moments while you can. There may never be another Shohei Ohtani and there is no telling how long he is going to be able to keep this up. This mesmerizing transition from hitter to pitcher will only exist for so long!