Ohtani last pitched in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Between starts, all he did was hit 54 home runs, knock in 130 runs, steal 59 bases in 2024 to win his second straight MVP and third overall as a full-time hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the World Series.

Dodgers are easing Ohtani back into pitching, essentially completing his rehab while in the majors. “There’s no playbook for this,” said GM Brandon Gomes.

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, who have combined to win five of the last eight Most Valuable Player awards, are lapping the rest of Major League Baseball in the first batch of All-Star Game balloting.