Did you witness Shohei Ohtani 3.0’s pitching debut in Arizona this past Saturday? It showcased a version of Ohtani we’ve never encountered before.

During his initial bullpen session of the spring following his second right elbow surgery, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star unveiled a windup technique that’s completely new to his MLB repertoire. He began with his shoulders nearly lined up with the batter and executed a drop step with his left leg before lifting his leg. This distinctive windup technique enables him to create more body momentum, potentially reducing the strain on his arm.

Let’s revisit the Ohtani we were familiar with during his pitching tenure with the Angels, where he consistently delivered from the stretch position even with no runners on base.

Three key aspects stand out across these visuals:

1. In each frame, Ohtani delivers his pitches from the stretch position and positioned in the center of the rubber.

2. In 2023, Ohtani adjusted his hand placement, likely to limit any potential tells to batters.

3. He has noticeably built muscle and strength.

Now, examining Ohtani 3.0 from Saturday’s session, he appeared with his shoulders aligned more with the hitter and utilized a step back behind the rubber to initiate a classic windup. The drop step seems to slightly shift his planting foot toward first base.

With Ohtani, it’s evident that his transformations carry significant intent. He embodies purposeful gameplay like no other.

“It’s not something that’s been extensively discussed,” remarked a source from the Dodgers, “but his focus and determination in every action he takes are unmistakable.”

During the session, Ohtani reached a velocity of 92–94 mph. He is just kicking off a throwing regimen that is anticipated to place him in the Dodgers’ rotation by May. The initial indications are promising, particularly regarding his arm’s condition.

Beyond the windup, the most notable aspect of his bullpen outing was a return to his higher, more natural arm slot. Before Ohtani’s setback in 2023, his vertical release point for the four-seam fastball was gradually decreasing.

Although specific metrics from his bullpen session weren’t available, it was clear his arm slot this spring is significantly higher than in the previous year. A comparison of the hand release position with respect to his cap height illustrates this change:

Ohtani is recovering from two elbow surgeries within a five-year span, in addition to a recent surgery three months ago to fix a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Yet, he appeared to pitch effortlessly and fluently in this new, upgraded style. This only adds to the list of reasons why Ohtani continues to astonish us.