It’s been 662 days of waiting and rebuilding, but Shohei Ohtani is finally on the way to becoming that guy again. If you are a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, you have probably watched every at-bat with awe. But you might also have wondered what the other half of the unicorn would be like. The pitcher and the flamethrower. The guy that the Dodgers shelled out $700 million for.

The last time Ohtani’s two-way brilliance was ever seen was back in August 2023. He had Tommy John surgery in September of that year following an elbow injury while still being with the Los Angeles Angels, and ever since he has come to the Dodgers, it’s just his bat doing the talking. Now, for quite a while, whispers, reports from the bullpen, and simulated games gave hope about his return. But nothing concrete happened—until now.

Just this past week, Ohtani stepped on the mound at the Arizona Spring Complex for a simulated game. Forty-four pitches, three innings, and six strikeouts. Sure, it was against low-level minor leagues, but for anyone paying attention, this was a big breakthrough moment. His stuff was looking elite, and his confidence was louder than ever. Most importantly, he is looking like The Sho! And if you still doubt his major league return soon, Dave Roberts just burst your bubble.

Dave Roberts mentioned, “Sho’s getting antsy, which is a good thing for us… I don’t know which day he’s going to open for us, but there’s a high probability he’s going to open for us in the coming days.” “Antsy”—that’s the word that sent butterflies to the fan base. Because it basically means that Ohtani wasn’t just physically ready; he was also mentally prepped for it.

And now, if all goes to plan, the return can be as early as June 16, when the Dodgers host the Padres. For now, the team has not made it official yet, but the signs and Roberts saying “most likely” about Ohtani pitching in the Padres game speak volumes.

Plus, Saturday night only points out that Ohtani is just as eager to get back. After crushing two home runs against the Giants, Ohtani made his feelings clear: “I do feel like being a two-way player that I used to be was the norm… So last year was an abnormal year, and for me it’s about getting back to what I used to be.” So he wants to reclaim his identity. And it is understandable, and even MLB insiders like Jeff Fletcher have mentioned that Sho is unique because of his two-way player identity. Plus, for the Dodgers struggling with injuries to Glasnow, Snell, Sasaki, and more, Ohtani’s timing couldn’t be better.

And just as the buzz around his pitching return has started to take over, Ohtani just casually dropped his name in history books yet again, leaving fans at a loss for words.

Shohei Ohtani smokes A-Rod’s record

Shohei Ohtani is not breaking records anymore—he’s making a habit of it, it seems like. Coming off a two-homer night against the Giants, Ohtani broke another MLB record. He became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 250 runs and 150 stolen bases. He did it in just 944 games! Now, for context, Alex Rodriguez needed 977 games to do so, and Ohtani casually just beat A-Rod. And he has done it all in just one league since 2018. This is not a random stat—it’s a sick flex!

Ohtani isn’t just cranking homers, 250 and counting; he is also flying around the bases like Flash. He has swiped 156 bags, and that’s fascinating because most look at him as a power hitter through and through. Plus, most guys with that kind of pop don’t really think about stealing bases. But Ohtani makes it look so simple and easy.

And here is the real kicker—Ohtani has done this in an era when stolen bases have become more of a luxury than a weapon. Strategy has slowed the running game by plenty; however, Sho is there, making catchers nervous every time he gets on first. And this is the real magic of Ohtani. One minute, he is launching a 450-foot smacker, and next, he is stealing second like it’s a piece of cake.

Now, Ohtani is planning a comeback as soon as possible. And maybe this time, yet again, he will rewrite the history books. What do you think? Let us know.