PHOENIX — Mark Prior says he isn’t simply shocked by issues he sees in spring camp.
Over his eight years as a Dodger pitching coach, Prior has handled Cy Younger winners, extremely touted prospects, nine-figure free-agent acquisitions and extra harm rehabilitations than he cares to depend.
Watching Shohei Ohtani this week, nonetheless, has been a supply of amazement for Prior and different coaches and executives at Camelback Ranch.
“It’s crazy to think that this guy had surgery on his left shoulder in November,” Prior stated Saturday. “He doesn’t look like he’s missed a beat.”
Certainly, although the labrum surgical procedure Ohtani underwent simply three months in the past was to his left, non-throwing shoulder, Prior wasn’t certain of precisely how sharp the two-way star would look as soon as he began throwing off a mound once more throughout spring coaching.
The process, in any case, delayed Ohtani’s throwing program this winter, dashing the already slim probabilities of him being able to pitch by opening day. It additionally threw one other wrench into his ongoing restoration from a 2023 Tommy John revision, introducing yet another variable into the second main elbow rehab of Ohtani’s MLB profession.
However on Saturday, in Ohtani’s first bullpen session of camp, the Dodgers had been reminded of simply how simple the two-way star could make even an elongated restoration course of really feel.
In 14 pitches, all of which had been four-seam and two-seam fastballs, Ohtani was already as much as 92 to 94 mph, in response to supervisor Dave Roberts.
“The ball was coming out really good,” Roberts stated. “I think he seemed pretty pleased with it.”
When Prior was requested for his analysis of the session, the veteran pitching coach couldn’t assist however gush over what he noticed.
“There’s not a lot of things that, at least, kind of surprise me,” Prior stated. “But he looks really good. And that is surprising for a guy who’s had a surgery. I know it’s not his throwing shoulder, but doesn’t look like his left shoulder has been impacted, at least visually to the naked eye. I’m sure he feels stuff here and there, but overall, he looks really good.”
Shohei Ohtani speaks with Dodgers basic supervisor Brandon Gomes, left, as Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts appears to be like on throughout a spring coaching exercise Saturday.
(Ashley Landis / Related Press)
Ohtani nonetheless has many packing containers to examine earlier than he begins pitching within the massive leagues once more.
Although he was near going through hitters on the finish of final season — when he was restricted to solely designated hitting duties in video games whereas slowly ramping up his post-Tommy John throwing program — Ohtani needed to considerably restart his course of as a pitcher this winter, along with his surgical procedure on the torn labrum he suffered within the World Collection happening shortly after the Dodgers’ championship parade.
When spring coaching began initially of final week, the 30-year-old was nonetheless restricted to flat-ground throwing classes. It was solely on Wednesday that he threw his signature sweeper in catch play for the primary time.
Saturday’s bullpen, nonetheless, served as an vital step in Ohtani’s pitching build-up. Afterward, he described the session as merely “good.” The one actual snafu of the day was with the ball-tracking expertise that was imagined to document motion knowledge on every of his pitches. It was malfunctioning till his ultimate two throws.
“Unfortunately, technology was not necessarily our friend today,” Prior joked.
However even to the bare eye, Ohtani’s supply regarded clean to the Dodgers’ teaching employees, with the right-hander working solely out of the stretch.
“I think right now he’s just trying to find some rhythm and some timing,” Prior stated of Ohtani’s determination to keep away from a full wind-up. “Probably generating a little bit of energy and trying not to put as much stress initially on the arm.”
The very fact his velocity was already into the mid-90s was another excuse for optimism.
“For the first day,” Roberts stated, “that was great.”
The Dodgers are nonetheless considering precisely how they’ll combine Ohtani — who is predicted to be able to hit in time for opening day, and return to a giant league mound by Could — again into the beginning rotation.
Roberts stated the staff is aiming to have Ohtani face hitters in stay batting observe earlier than camp ends subsequent month. As soon as the common season begins, they’ll attempt to discover extra simulated environments to assist him construct up, relatively than sending him on a normal minor league rehab task that will power him to overlook MLB video games as a DH.
“It’s going to be unique and we’re going to have to do it on the fly,” Prior stated. “We saw what he did last year trying to rehab and hit. That seemed to turn out pretty well, at least on the offensive side of the ball. It’s probably going to be some version of that.
“Great thing is, Shohei’s really dedicated to his craft. Really dedicated and really meticulous about what he does. He communicates very well on what he needs those days to get ready. So we’re just going to have to be nimble and we’re going to have to adjust.”
Within the larger image, these are dilemmas the Dodgers are pleased to have.
For a yr, they’ve waited to look at Ohtani resume full-time two-way duties. And even after getting only a small style of it Saturday, anticipation for his return to the mound was already beginning to construct.
“Given everything he’s done in his career so far and what he’s done last year, I think he’s in a really good spot and nobody’s going to assume otherwise,” Prior stated. “He’s gonna go out and pitch at a really high level and he’s gonna go out and hit at a really high level.”
