During the final weeks of yet another historic season in 2023, Shohei Ohtani was given the news that every pitcher, organization and fanbase dreads to hear, Tommy John surgery was needed – AGAIN. This was a gut punch to the baseball world as their shining star, two-way phenom from the Pacific Rim would go under the knife for the second time in his career.
While two Tommy John surgeries in a pitcher’s career is not unprecedented, the success rate is a mixed bag. Pitchers like Nathan Eovaldi and Jameson Taillon were successful in their recoveries and continue to pitch at the Major League level today. Others however, like Josh Johnson and Brian Wilson did not fare quite as well. Both were all-star pitchers in the 2010s who have since faded into obscurity since their procedures. The varying rate of success after getting the surgery twice had Ohtani’s future as a two-way player was shrouded in mystery.
Despite the injury, Ohtani would sign a record breaking $700 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2023 offseason. Loftier expectations had been set both for Shohei and Dodger organization. Through all the uncertainty, one thing was abundantly clear, Shohei’s ulnar collateral ligament had to be protected at all costs. Despite posting the first 50 home run/50 stolen base season the sport had ever seen in 2024, Shohei’s value comes both on the mound AND in the batter’s box. It was imperative that his mechanics be altered in order to sustain his unprecedented dominance of the National Pastime.
When looking at Ohtani’s pitching mechanics while he was with the Angels, it is easy to see how the second Tommy John surgery was an inevitability. With every fastball he threw, Ohtani’s body would fall to his left side. Throwing as hard as he did and generating the majority of his fastball velocity from his upper body and throwing arm, caused his torso to fall to his left side upon release. These mechanics and the underutilization of the lower half of his body to generate power and maintain stability caused excessive stress to his arm and UCL in particular. It worked for the time being, as he would rack up two American League MVP awards in three years. But as any trainer will tell you, the body can only take so much.
Below is a side by side comparison of Shohei’s arm angle with the Angels and Dodgers.
Since returning to the mound Ohtani is using the lower half of his body to help generate power and velocity in his pitches. He has found equilibrium in his mechanics using both halves of his body. He has also altered the shifting of his weight on his follow through. His body is moving in one fluid motion together to help alleviate the stress on his elbow. His body is no longer being pulled in two different directions which helps to alleviate tension on his UCL and his pitching arm as a whole. Ohtani has also changed his arms slot, bringing his arm down to a 3/4 position from an overhand arm slot which will help to alleviate tension on his elbow and arm. By doing both of these things he can have more longevity on the mound with a smoother, repeatable deliver without sacrificing velocity on his fastball.
Below is a side by side comparison of Ohtani’s leg kick with the Angels and Dodgers.
Watching his new mechanics this season, I noticed a striking similarity between his mechanics and the mechanics of Josh Beckett. Both pitchers have a high leg kick which generates velocity and not placing as much stress on the arm and elbow. Beckett and Ohtani overpower hitters with a mix of high velocity and off-speed pitches with tremendous break to them. I put Ohtani’s mechanics from this season side by side with Beckett’s from 2007 to display their similarities.
Ohtani’s mechanics while comparable to Beckett’s will allow for more longevity because he maintains his balance and has more fluidity in his delivery. Beckett’s mechanics lead to several injuries due to the stress on his body at the end of his delivery and ultimately ended his career. The tweaks in Ohtani’s new mechanics, including a higher leg kick, and an enhanced understanding of biomechanics will allow him to continue his dominance on the mound for years to come.
Sources:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/do-lower-arm-slots-lessen-injury-risks-for-pitchers
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