In an exciting update for baseball fans, Shohei Ohtani is inching closer to his return to the game. The two-way star recently revealed that he has been steadily progressing in his recovery process, with encouraging signs in his throwing ability.

According to MLB.com's Juan Toribio, Ohtani has been throwing from a distance of 60 feet, with his pitches reaching speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. This positive development comes after Ohtani began his throwing regimen in late March, incorporating 60 to 70 tosses during each session.

Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers stating that Ohtani will not make an official return to the mound until the 2025 season, there is no rush from either him or the team. Ohtani has instead been showcasing his talent on the base paths, leading the Dodgers in various offensive categories and displaying an aggressive approach to stealing bases.

There have been suggestions that Ohtani's success as a hitter might prevent him from taking the mound again. However, he dismissed such concerns, expressing his desire to experience the nerves and atmosphere of starting a game as a pitcher once more. "In a sense, I do miss that kind of atmosphere. But right now I'm really just focusing on progressing every day, really focusing on that," said Ohtani.

In other news, San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb recently admitted on his podcast that Mookie Betts has had the upper hand when facing him. Betts, on the podcast, took the opportunity to apologize to Webb, but also expressed his enjoyment when Webb pitches against him.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently going through their worst losing streak in five years. However, with the streak being just five games long, there might not be significant cause for concern, as highlighted by Jordan Shusterman at Yahoo Sports.

Looking ahead, despite the Dodgers' high-profile offseason acquisitions, including Ohtani, Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic suggests that the team still has room to make moves at the trade deadline. The priority appears to be adding another hitter and a relief pitcher to strengthen their roster further.

As fans eagerly await Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound and the result of the Dodgers' trade deadline moves, the baseball world remains captivated by these developments and looks forward to witnessing more thrilling moments on the diamond.