Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is reportedly making real progress in his recovery from those knee and biceps injuries, giving fans something to finally buzz about! For the first time on Saturday, Ohtani stepped up and swung off a Trajekt Arc pitching machine, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. This isn’t just a random swing; it’s the closest this four-time MVP has gotten to facing live pitching since his injury.
One Step Closer, But How Close?
That Saturday session on the pitching machine is a massive step. Think about it, that Trajekt Arc machine is designed to mimic actual pitchers, giving Ohtani a real feel for pitches coming at him. It means he’s getting real work in, pushing closer to being activated from the injured list. Every fan wants to see him back on the field, absolutely dominating like we know he can, and this is the strongest signal yet that he’s really building back up. You gotta love seeing that kind of grit in recovery.
The Big Question: When’s He Back?
Despite the positive news from the batting cage, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kept it tight-lipped on Saturday. Per Ardaya, Roberts didn’t have an exact timeline for Ohtani’s return. The superstar was placed on the 15-day injured list way back on September 11, so we’re already into that window. While the machine swings are encouraging, the lack of a firm date from Roberts means we’re still in wait-and-see mode. Every day without him on the field is a day baseball misses some serious fireworks.
So, what’s next? We’re all glued to every update, waiting for that official word on when Ohtani will be cleared for full activation. With those machine swings under his belt, the focus is now entirely on how quickly his body responds and when the Dodgers feel he’s truly game-ready. You just know he’s itching to get back out there, and we’re all itching to watch him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply