Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch this season after major elbow surgery, but he can still hit. Here’s why

Shohei Ohtani is unique in Major League Baseball history, a two-way Japanese superstar who can excel as a hitter and a pitcher, sometimes in the same game. Ohtani has been vague about the exact procedure he had last September, but the Dodgers do not expect him to pitch until 2025. Typically, pitchers who have Tommy John surgery miss at least a full calendar year.