Shohei Otani of the Major League Baseball Dodgers, who is focusing on being a batter this season, played catch in front of the press for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right elbow on the 25th.
On the 25th, before the exhibition game against the Angels at Dodger Stadium, his home base, Otani appeared on the field wearing a pitcher's glove and played catch with team staff from a distance of about 20 meters. I started.
It was the first time Otani played catch in front of the press since he underwent surgery on his right elbow in September last year, and after first throwing lightly to get a feel for it, he gradually increased his power and started pitching midway through. I was conscious of my form and threw about 50 pitches in about 15 minutes.
Through Will Ireton, who was acting as an interpreter, he was seen talking with the trainer about the feeling of throwing the ball.
Last week, before the opening series in South Korea, Ohtani said, ``I've finished my rehabilitation as a batter,'' and expressed his intention to resume throwing as soon as he returns to the United States.
From now on, while participating in games as a batter, he will also be rehabilitating his pitching by gradually increasing the distance he can catch the ball.
Otani is aiming to return as a pitcher in time for the start of next season, and is finally entering the next stage of his return to the "dual-wielding" style of pitching and hitting.