Latest news with #MarkPrior
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani throws 29 pitches in 2nd live batting practice since elbow surgery
Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a live batter prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani fields a hit ball while he was throwing to live batters practice prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a live batter prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani, left, chats with Kiké Hernández as he takes a break from throwing to live batters prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani, center, throws live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior, second from left, watches prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani, center, throws live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior, second from left, watches prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a live batter prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani fields a hit ball while he was throwing to live batters practice prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a live batter prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani, left, chats with Kiké Hernández as he takes a break from throwing to live batters prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Shohei Ohtani, center, throws live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior, second from left, watches prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani checked off another step Saturday as he works toward making his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-way superstar faced hitters for the second time since elbow surgery, throwing 29 pitches at Dodger Stadium in a 25-minute session before the defending World Series champions played the New York Yankees. Ohtani threw 22 pitches in his first live batting practice last weekend in New York. Advertisement The stadium music was turned off and everyone from teammates to workers to media watched Ohtani. A Los Angeles Police Department helicopter flew noisily overhead. Freddie Freeman's 8-year-old son, Charlie, stood in the outfield holding his glove. Kiké Hernández sat cross-legged behind the mound. Ohtani threw to seven batters from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in a simulated setting. He came out of it well, according to manager Dave Roberts. 'He's just using his entire arsenal, also with today doing the up-down, he's certainly well beyond where he was in spring (training),' Roberts said. Against his first batter, Ohtani fielded a grounder to the left of the mound and made throw to first where no one was. The second hitter laced a single to right. He gave up a few more singles. Advertisement Roberts looked on from third base and pitching coach Mark Prior stood behind the mound. Ohtani paused at times to talk to Prior. Roberts guessed the right-hander's velocity was 'somewhere in the mid-90s.' 'I think he would wishes his command would have been a little bit better,' Roberts said, 'but really positive day for sure.' Roberts said Ohtani could throw another two or possibly three innings next Saturday. The three-time MVP isn't expected to pitch in a major league game until after the All-Star break in mid-July. 'You still got to get to five or six innings, so we still got a ways to go,' Roberts said. Advertisement Ohtani was coming off a two-homer performance in the Dodgers' 8-5 series-opening win Friday night. He leads the majors with 22 homers. 'I think the thing that's most impressive is his ability to compartmentalize,' Roberts said. 'He's essentially doing the work of two players and still to go out there and perform on the offensive side is pretty remarkable.' Ohtani is recovering from surgery in September 2023, the second major operation on his right elbow since he arrived in the majors from Japan. He hasn't pitched in a big league game since Aug. 23, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings during five seasons as a big league pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Oct. 1, 2018, and returned to a major league mound on July 26, 2020, though he was limited to just two starts during the pandemic-shortened season. He didn't speak with media after his session. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Shohei Ohtani throws 29 pitches in 2nd live batting practice since elbow surgery
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani checked off another step Saturday as he works toward making his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-way superstar faced hitters for the second time since elbow surgery, throwing 29 pitches at Dodger Stadium in a 25-minute session before the defending World Series champions played the New York Yankees. Ohtani threw 22 pitches in his first live batting practice last weekend in New York. The stadium music was turned off and everyone from teammates to workers to media watched Ohtani. A Los Angeles Police Department helicopter flew noisily overhead. Freddie Freeman's 8-year-old son, Charlie, stood in the outfield holding his glove. Kiké Hernández sat cross-legged behind the mound. Ohtani threw to seven batters from Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in a simulated setting. He came out of it well, according to manager Dave Roberts. 'He's just using his entire arsenal, also with today doing the up-down, he's certainly well beyond where he was in spring (training),' Roberts said. Against his first batter, Ohtani fielded a grounder to the left of the mound and made throw to first where no one was. The second hitter laced a single to right. He gave up a few more singles. Roberts looked on from third base and pitching coach Mark Prior stood behind the mound. Ohtani paused at times to talk to Prior. Roberts guessed the right-hander's velocity was 'somewhere in the mid-90s.' 'I think he would wishes his command would have been a little bit better,' Roberts said, 'but really positive day for sure.' Roberts said Ohtani could throw another two or possibly three innings next Saturday. The three-time MVP isn't expected to pitch in a major league game until after the All-Star break in mid-July. 'You still got to get to five or six innings, so we still got a ways to go,' Roberts said. Ohtani was coming off a two-homer performance in the Dodgers' 8-5 series-opening win Friday night. He leads the majors with 22 homers. 'I think the thing that's most impressive is his ability to compartmentalize,' Roberts said. 'He's essentially doing the work of two players and still to go out there and perform on the offensive side is pretty remarkable.' Ohtani is recovering from surgery in September 2023, the second major operation on his right elbow since he arrived in the majors from Japan. He hasn't pitched in a big league game since Aug. 23, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings during five seasons as a big league pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Oct. 1, 2018, and returned to a major league mound on July 26, 2020, though he was limited to just two starts during the pandemic-shortened season. He didn't speak with media after his session. ___ AP MLB:
CNN
26-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Shohei Ohtani's long-awaited return to pitching moves step closer as he faces hitters for first time in almost two years
It's been a long-time coming, but Shohei Ohtani's highly-anticipated return to pitching might not be far away. The Japanese star took a big step to returning to the mound on Sunday when he delighted the crowd at Citi Field ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against the New York Mets, facing hitters for the first time in almost two years. Ohtani threw 22 pitches across five simulated plate appearances. It's the first time he's faced hitters since undergoing a procedure to repair the right ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in September 2023. Since then, Ohtani has only featured with the bat and his two-way game – which made him a global superstar – has been thwarted. On Sunday, the three-time MVP threw mostly fastballs, cutters and sinkers with his fastball hovering around 94-95 mph and maxing out at 97 mph. 'I am aware that I do throw a little harder when there is a hitter in the box,' Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, per the MLB website. 'I try to keep it 93-94, but I know I was touching '6 and '7s, which I wanted to not do. But it's a good sign that I could hit that.' Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said he was predominately happy with how Ohtani performed against live hitters. 'He looks good. He looked healthy,' Prior said. 'That's always the main thing with facing hitters. That he feels confident, his endurance is good, he maintained his stuff. From that standpoint, it was good. Pitch movement-wise, it looked good, too.' Ohtani faced Dalton Rushing, Kim Hye-seong and LA's game planning coach JT Watkins in the live session. It might still be a while before Ohtani returns fully to the mound, however, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saying before the game that he likely wouldn't be pitching for the team until after the All-Star break in mid-July: 'He's doing his first simulated game for two innings and in theory you got to build a starter up to five, six innings, and so just the natural progression, I just don't see it being before that.' However, Sunday was a big step in that process and the three-time MVP was happy with his progress. 'I haven't thrown in a while, so it was nice to be able to feel like I was a pitcher,' Ohtani said. 'I just kind of remembered those days when I used to have a lot of good memories as a pitcher.' Ohtani's public workout was watched by a substantial on-looking crowd from the stands, as well as some Mets players, despite it being hours before the game. Although the Dodgers went onto lose 3-1 to the Mets – dropping their sixth game in the last nine – Ohtani maintained his good form with the bat, hitting his 18th home run of the season to keep him tied atop the 2025 leaderboard in HRs with Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber.
CNN
26-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Shohei Ohtani's long-awaited return to pitching moves step closer as he faces hitters for first time in almost two years
It's been a long-time coming, but Shohei Ohtani's highly-anticipated return to pitching might not be far away. The Japanese star took a big step to returning to the mound on Sunday when he delighted the crowd at Citi Field ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against the New York Mets, facing hitters for the first time in almost two years. Ohtani threw 22 pitches across five simulated plate appearances. It's the first time he's faced hitters since undergoing a procedure to repair the right ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in September 2023. Since then, Ohtani has only featured with the bat and his two-way game – which made him a global superstar – has been thwarted. On Sunday, the three-time MVP threw mostly fastballs, cutters and sinkers with his fastball hovering around 94-95 mph and maxing out at 97 mph. 'I am aware that I do throw a little harder when there is a hitter in the box,' Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, per the MLB website. 'I try to keep it 93-94, but I know I was touching '6 and '7s, which I wanted to not do. But it's a good sign that I could hit that.' Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said he was predominately happy with how Ohtani performed against live hitters. 'He looks good. He looked healthy,' Prior said. 'That's always the main thing with facing hitters. That he feels confident, his endurance is good, he maintained his stuff. From that standpoint, it was good. Pitch movement-wise, it looked good, too.' Ohtani faced Dalton Rushing, Kim Hye-seong and LA's game planning coach JT Watkins in the live session. It might still be a while before Ohtani returns fully to the mound, however, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saying before the game that he likely wouldn't be pitching for the team until after the All-Star break in mid-July: 'He's doing his first simulated game for two innings and in theory you got to build a starter up to five, six innings, and so just the natural progression, I just don't see it being before that.' However, Sunday was a big step in that process and the three-time MVP was happy with his progress. 'I haven't thrown in a while, so it was nice to be able to feel like I was a pitcher,' Ohtani said. 'I just kind of remembered those days when I used to have a lot of good memories as a pitcher.' Ohtani's public workout was watched by a substantial on-looking crowd from the stands, as well as some Mets players, despite it being hours before the game. Although the Dodgers went onto lose 3-1 to the Mets – dropping their sixth game in the last nine – Ohtani maintained his good form with the bat, hitting his 18th home run of the season to keep him tied atop the 2025 leaderboard in HRs with Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani home run caps wild ninth-inning comeback in Dodgers' win over Arizona
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani celebrates immediately after hitting a three-run home run in the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 14-11 comeback win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday night. (Darryl Webb / Associated Press) The roof was open. The air was hot. And in a stadium already known as a hitter's paradise, the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks teed off on one another in a Chase Field classic. There were lead changes and sudden momentum shifts. Line-drive rockets and towering no-doubt blasts. The ejection of Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, and a last-gasp ninth-inning comeback from their offense. Advertisement Most of all, there was Shohei Ohtani. With two on and one out in a tied game in the ninth, Ohtani turned a riveting early May night into one of the most memorable games of his Dodger career, launching a go-ahead three-run home run that lifted the Dodgers to a 14-11 win. As far as storybook moments in the regular season go, Friday's ending had everything. Read more: Dodgers continue 'to bet on' Michael Conforto, but can he break unthinkable early slump? By the ninth inning, the reigning National League MVP already hit two doubles as part of the Dodgers' early onslaught, one that helped them build a five-run lead in the third inning they would later squander by allowing eight unanswered scores. Advertisement But in the ninth, a leadoff infield single from Freddie Freeman was followed by consecutive run-scoring doubles from Andy Pages and Kiké Hernández, trimming what was an 11-8 deficit to 11-10. Max Muncy got the score knotted, knocking a single to right. Then, when Michael Conforto got hit with a pitch with one out, the Diamondbacks faced a decision. Arizona could have intentionally walked Ohtani, a move that would have loaded the bases but also set up a force out at every bag. Instead, they replaced closer Kevin Ginkel with sidearm right-hander Ryan Thompson, hoping his funky delivery could keep Ohtani off balance. He couldn't, throwing a one-and-two splitter that stayed up over the middle. The sound alone off Ohtani's bat left no doubt about where it would land. Even before first pitch, Friday had the makings of a high-scoring affair. Advertisement Eduardo Rodríguez, the veteran left-hander who two years ago blocked an agreed-upon deadline day trade from Detroit to the Dodgers, entered the night with a 5.92 ERA and was facing a right-handed-heavy Dodgers lineup, with slumping lefty sluggers Muncy and Conforto dropped to the bench. Roki Sasaki, meanwhile, was pitching on five days of rest (as opposed to six) for the first time in his career. He was throwing in a dry Arizona climate that can often impact the execution of breaking pitches. And, as a result, there was added importance on a fastball that has disappointed so far this season, averaging well below the triple-digit readings he was hoping to rediscover this season while generating few whiffs or much soft contact. Right from the jump, the Diamondbacks took advantage. While Rodríguez gave up one run in the first inning after a leadoff double from Ohtani, Sasaki was ambushed for three. In a 2-and-1 count, Ketel Marte got a middle-middle heater that he sent curling around the right-field foul pole for a solo home run. Then, after Josh Naylor doubled on a four-seamer that clocked in at just 92.8 mph, Eugenio Suárez launched an outer-edge fastball the other way for a two-run blast. Advertisement The homers were the fifth and sixth that Sasaki has allowed in his last five outings. All of them have come against his fastball, a pitch that has yielded a lot of hard contact while getting very little swing-and-miss — including no whiffs Friday. The Dodgers (26-13) had an answer of their own in the second, tying the game on Hernández's sixth home run of the year and Ohtani's second double in as many innings. Then, in the third, they seemingly took control of the game, exploding for five runs on four hits and three walks while sending 11 batters to the plate — in an inning where the three outs were recorded by Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freeman no less. Advertisement Before ending the inning with a strikeout in his second at-bat of the frame, Freeman helped get it started by roping a double down the line to put two runners in scoring position. Pages followed that up with a two-run single to left. Hernández and Miguel Rojas came up next and loaded the bases with a single and a walk. With no one still out, James Outman hit the ground ball Arizona (20-19) was looking for, but an errant throw to the plate instead allowed two more runs to score. Betts later tacked on a sacrifice fly. That should've been enough for the Dodgers, carrying the ensuing 8-3 lead into the fourth. But on this night, no lead was ever truly safe. Sasaki was pulled after issuing a leadoff walk in the fifth, the lead having been trimmed to 8-4 at that point. His replacement, Anthony Banda, failed to stem a turning tide. Advertisement Within three batters, the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded. With two outs in the inning, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. swung big at a down-and-in sinker. Banda turned to watch it fly for a game-tying grand slam, evening the score at 8-8. Arizona's Lourdes Gurriel Jr., left, pumps is fist after hitting a grand slam off Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda, right, during the fifth inning Friday. (Darryl Webb / Associated Press) The Diamondbacks' go-ahead run scored amid more contentious circumstances, as right-hander Luis García tried to escape another bases-loaded, two-out jam he inherited from Banda in the sixth. In a full count with Suarez, he threw a high sweeper that appeared to catch the top of the strike zone. Home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak, however, ruled it a ball that walked in a run. After the inning, Prior was ejected for arguing from the dugout. Advertisement In the ninth, it was the Diamondbacks turn to seemingly put the game out of reach, hitting back to back home runs off Alex Vesia for an 11-8 lead. But, once again, no lead on this night proved to be safe. Especially not once the Dodgers got Ohtani back up to the plate. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
