Shohei Ohtani Says His Elbow Surgery Was 'Completely Different' From First Tommy John
The Dodgers formally introduced two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani on Thursday at Dodger Stadium in front of a frenzy of media members. It was the first time that he had spoken to the media since August.
Ohtani opened up about the surgical procedure that he had to repair his UCL tear from this past season. He said that he didn't know what it was called, but that it was very different from his previous Tommy John surgery from a few years ago.
Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, was asked by our own J.P. Hoornstra about the surgery, and said that it didn't have a name. But he did say that his progress is ahead of how most people recover from Tommy John surgery.
This is great news for all fans, but Ohtani still won't be pitching in the 2024 season. He will be the Dodgers' full-time designated hitter for the year, giving them a very powerful left-handed bat in the lineup. Part of the reason he picked the Dodgers was their ability to win, and they are able to do that while he recovers from his surgery.
Ohtani being ahead of schedule is incredible for the Dodgers and makes it even more likely that he will get back to the mound sooner rather than later. But Ohtani does plan to return to the mound in 2025 to resume his two-way abilities.
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