LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani threw from the mound for the first time Saturday since undergoing elbow surgery last year that kept the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar from pitching this season.
Ohtani got his throwing arm back in shape while making history with his bat, hitting 40 home runs with a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning and 40 stolen bases with a fourth-inning sweep on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Japanese sensation became the fastest player in Major League history to join the 40-40 club as its sixth member, doing so in his 126th game of the season.
He was back at it again on Saturday night, hitting a two-run shot against the Rays, his 41st home run of the year.
Ohtani had previously thrown 10 pitches in the bullpen at Dodger Stadium, with a horde of media watching closely. In September, he underwent surgery after injuring his elbow while playing for the Los Angeles Angels. Three months later, he was traded to the Dodgers, signing a 10-year, $700 million contract.
The team has stressed that Ohtani will not pitch at all this season, including in the postseason.
Ohtani has played as a designated hitter this season.
This report uses information from the Associated Press.
