Shohei Ohtani threw what Los Angeles Times reporter Maria Torres described as a “high-intensity bullpen session” on Saturday, and one spectator, Angels manager Brad Ausmus, walked away impressed. “He looked easy and free,” Ausmus said. “He threw about 40 pitches, I think. He was good. No complaints, so that’s good.” Ohtani relayed through an interpreter that he was throwing up to 82 mph during the pre-game workout, which, in his estimation, places him at about the “80%” point in his recovery process from Tommy John surgery. Of course, the Japanese import is known for ratcheting fastballs well in excess of 80 mph, so the Los Angeles org will likely have to wait until 2020 to see their prized two-way talent back on a big league mound.
More pitcher-focused frottages from around the web…
- There are few sports-related injuries that are conceivably more painful than a herniated disc, but, after two months spent recovering from such an injury, Marlins starter Jose Urena is soldiering onward in his recovery, according to a report from Wells Dusenbury of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Urena, a veteran of five big league seasons, threw a bullpen session yesterday that manager Don Mattingly described as “really good”. According to the skipper, the team expects their homegrown hurler to return to the team in September, possibly in a bullpen capacity.
- According to a tweet from Mandy Bell of MLB.com, the Indians have placed pitcher AJ Cole on the 10-day injured list, with a recall of pitcher Hunter Wood as a consequent move (link). Cole, a 27-year-old righthander, has been generally effective out of the Cleveland pen this year. His 10.38 K/9 rate over 26 innings has helped catalyze a solid 3.81 ERA rate, although his strikeout-geared repertoire could go a long way toward explaining the shoulder impingement that has now landed him in injury trouble. On the year, Cole has thrown a slider on 45.9% of his offerings, far, far above the usual 15% usage rate generally seen among pitchers utilizing that breaking ball in their repertoire.
I almost forgot Ohtani pitches
Lol
You won’t next season when he does it all
And ends up being mediocre at both.
Ill still take that
Ditto. He does two things fairly well and only takes up 1 roster spot. That alone is worth it.
But still was a ROY when he did both
Hey ReverieDays, you must not follow baseball. Over the last two years Ohtani’s wRC+ is 14th (650 PA). That’s between Freeman and Acuna.
His track record is awesome at both.
It will be foolish if they make him a Starter again but out of the Bullpen could work?
I’d like to see him as a closer. Maybe just for one year. It could prolong his pitching career. Btw it wasn’t meant as a knock on him that I forgot he was a pitcher.
Explain why it would be foolish to have him as a starter doing what he has done very well his whole career.
If Ohtani were truly versatile, he would pitch left handed too.
Because he hits baseballs so goodly of course.
No link for A.J. Cole?
baseball-reference.com/players/c/coleaj01.shtml
I bet it caused you lots of pain and trouble to find that link yourself.
Not as much pain and trouble as it caused you to read and comment here! Smfh
I was supporting you chief, but okay, just be a d***.
After all, TJ was all for the better. Concentrate on batting this year, concentrate on pitching next year, so 2-way can come back productively and effectively in two years.
While I know this is a positive spin, won’t the narrative if he struggles at one of them always be that it’s because of the other being a distraction?
He showed in Japan he can do this in professional baseball.
With the new rules, will Ohtani count as a “two-way player” next year? My understanding is it is based on whether you reach thresholds as a position player/DH and a pitcher this year. He won’t meet the pitching requirements this year, so I’m not sure if that affects the way they can use him next year and/or how he counts towards the limits of pitchers and position players on the active roster.
I thought it was a 2 year aggregate. It would be silly if THE preeminent two-way talent was unable to qualify for the status
All the more reason that part of the new rule wasn’t necessary.
phenomenalajs
Here is a good explanation mlb.com/news/two-way-player-rule-explanation
The two way player rule really only comes into play once the league sets a limit on the number of pitchers a team can carry on a roster. Position players can still pitch in blowouts and in extra innings. That’s when they are used most often anyways.
He will be a pitcher that hits for the first month or so. Once he pitches 20 innings and has 3 AB in 20 games as DH, he will automatically become a 2-way player again…
Ace of Diamonds…..
Exactly and that will open another pitcher spot. Next year is when MLB will put a limit on pitcher spots allowed on the 26 man having a 2-way helps.
I don’t think this is an appropriate use of “frottage” to be quite honest.
I’m not sure it was either, but I see the word so infrequently that I enjoyed it anyways.