Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Explains New Pitching Style: 'It Changed Quite a Bit'

Newsweek

3 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
The Los Angeles Dodgers earned a big win against the division rival San Diego Padres on Monday, but the biggest takeaway had little to do with the final score.
The game represented two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's first appearance on the mound for the Dodgers as he recovers from a shoulder surgery nearly two years ago. Ohtani gave up two hits and a run in just one inning, but he was able to throw four different pitches and his fastball topped 100 miles per hour.
Ohtani also demonstrated a "noticeably lower" arm angle from the mound and he acknowledged that he had made some significant adjustments to his pitching style after the game.
"Yeah, it changed quite a bit," Ohtani told the Japanese media, according to a translation from DodgersBeat. "My arm slot dropped, and that was mainly due to better coordination with my lower body. At this stage, we felt that lowering the angle would give us the best results, so it happened naturally."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on June 16, 2025 in...
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on June 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) More
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In the very early returns, the new style hasn't seemed to deliver better results, as Ohtani appeared to be a long way off from the Cy Young caliber starter he was with the Los Angeles Angels. But the Dodgers have to be happy to see him make this progress back to a full starter's workload as the team struggles with injuries to several frontline pitchers.
They also have to be pleased that Ohtani's offensive contributions were as strong as ever on Monday. He knocked in two runs on two hits in his four at-bats against the Padres after serving as the opener.
All told, the Dodgers have reason to believe Ohtani can return to his two-way superstar form at some point this season, though it seems his approach from the mound will be a bit different.
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