'it Looked Good.' Dodgers Encouraged By Shohei Ohtani Bullpen Session After Knee Injury

PHILADELPHIA — Shohei Ohtani wrapped up agelong flip successful nan Citizens Bank Park outfield Wednesday afternoon, turned and headed for nan two-story bullpen stairs.

Ohtani had initially been scheduled to return nan mound for nan Dodgers Wednesday against nan Phillies. But, pinch nan day of his adjacent pitching commencement up successful nan air, his bullpen convention still drew a batch of eyes.

Ohtani threw disconnected a mound Wednesday for nan first clip since receiving an Orthovisc injection successful his near knee to lubricate nan joint. The broadside convention of astir 30 pitches, moving done aggregate transportation types, was akin to a normal between-starts bullpen, pitching coach Mark Prior said.

“It looked good,” Prior said. “Feels good. We’ll spot wherever he’s astatine tomorrow.”

Asked if Ohtani said his knee was emotion 100%, Prior said they didn’t get into specifics.

“Just said, ‘How did you consciousness throwing?’ He said it felt great,” Prior said.

Ohtani, who was successful nan lineup Wednesday arsenic nan designated hitter, was not made disposable to remark earlier nan game.

It’s still unclear erstwhile Ohtani will prime up pitching duties again. But head Dave Roberts ruled retired Ohtani starting connected nan mound this play against nan Mets.

“It’s time by time pinch him,” Prior said. “We’re coming today. He threw a bullpen, spot wherever he comes successful … Friday, since we’re disconnected [Thursday]. We’ll make determinations aft that.”

This bullpen convention was a chance for Ohtani to trial his knee, which earlier nan injection seemed to beryllium aggravated by pitching.

“It’s a large sign,” Roberts said. “Because nan grass, nan level ground, each of that worldly is good and good, nan limb is fine. So it’s much of getting down nan slope, throwing complete your beforehand side. That’s benignant of nan large test. Usually nan bullpens are correct astir 88 (mph), truthful we’ll spot wherever he’s at.”

Ohtani has already been retired agelong capable that nan Dodgers will person to beryllium mindful of his workload whenever he rejoins nan rotation. His past commencement connected nan mound was July 3 against nan Padres.

“I still deliberation it hasn’t been truthful agelong that nan equity that he’s built up pinch nan transportation count is that overmuch compromised,” Roberts said. “But pinch that, I can’t foresee him moving retired location and throwing 100 pitches his first outing.”

If he’s sidelined for excessively long, he could person to gradually build up pinch each start. But it’s difficult to pinpoint wherever that delineation lies.

“I deliberation nan easy reply is to opportunity each pitcher is different,” Roberts said.