Shohei Ohtani is getting close.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar threw three simulated pitching innings on Tuesday. He looked so good, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, that manager Dave Roberts wouldn’t rule out Ohtani returning to the mound in MLB action before the All-Star break.
Aside from the obvious health question marks, there’s just one thing left to be pondered:
Will Ohtani make rehab starts in the minor leagues?
That’s not an issue for literally any other pitcher on the planet. That’s their whole job. So they go out of the spotlight, against weaker, lineups, and get their final tune-ups in.
But Ohtani is the Dodgers’ every-day leadoff hitter and DH. He’s right in the thick of the discussion of the best hitters in the world.
MORE: Roman Anthony reaches huge career milestone in 2nd MLB game
L.A. could conceptually keep him in the minors most days while letting him rehab on a day off from the MLB lineup, but there’d be some travel involved in that.
The Dodgers could instead just have Ohtani throw some intense simulated games before rejoining the MLB rotation, but that raises questions about readiness.
There’s probably a lot of feel involved in this choice. If Ohtani feels ready, and if pitching coach Mark Prior thinks he’s ready, maybe no rehab is needed.
But if that’s the choice, after almost two years away from a big league mound because of Tommy John surgery, it’d be unprecedented.
Ohtani, of course, is unprecedented, so maybe that’s exactly the choice he needs.
MORE MLB NEWS:
