Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Advances Pitching Rehab After Second Live BP

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' superstar and three-time MVP, is on track to achieve a rare fourth MVP award, a feat only matched by Barry Bonds. Ohtani leads the National League in home runs and OPS, boasting impressive offensive stats, including a .292 batting average with 23 homers and 64 runs scored. While the Dodgers face a pitching crisis with 15 pitchers on the injured list, Ohtani is progressing in his pitching rehab following elbow surgery, recently completing his second live batting practice session and throwing 29 pitches across two innings. Manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani's positive progress and noted that he still needs to build up to pitching five or six innings in a game. Despite some command challenges, Ohtani's ability to perform both offensively and on the mound is remarkable, as he balances the workload of two players. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are managing other injuries like Mookie Betts’ fractured toe, but Ohtani remains a central figure in their season's hopes.