OC Register: Angels’ Shohei Ohtani says rehab going smoothly so far

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. >> Although Shohei Ohtani isn’t expected to be able to play until May, a guy can dream.

“As a baseball player, I would like to make it on opening day,” Ohtani said through his interpreter on Sunday morning. “That’s the thought, but I’m not going to rush myself.”

Ohtani, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, would obviously like to beat the projected timeline that has him returning sometime in May.

Ohtani has been taking swings at about 75 percent effort so far, but he has not hit a ball yet. He said he’s hoping he can begin hitting off a tee within a week.

“So far things are going as planned,” Ohtani said. “No problems at all. But maybe once I start throwing, maybe I’ll start having some issues. But as of now, everything has been going well.”

Ohtani said he might begin throwing by the end of spring training. When Ohtani starts throwing, that will slow his rehab as a hitter, because the Angels don’t want to introduce multiple new elements to his rehab at the same time.

 

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[jessecrall]

Considering a scout last year was quoted as saying Ohtani had a high school bat, I wouldn't bet against him defying expectations once again.