Shohei Ohtani progressing to throw the ball 60 feet while recovering from Tommy John surgery

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the New York Mets was postponed on Monday due to rain, but that didn’t stop Shohei Ohtani from getting in some exercise as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery.

Before Monday’s game was postponed (which was to take place as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday), Ohtani was in the visitors’ bullpen throwing pitches despite the pouring rain. After that, he told reporters that he started throwing from 60 feet in the air last week and reached 80 mph.

“Just progressively increasing the distance,” Ohtani said through an interpreter, by Jorge Castillo of ESPN. “Typically somewhere between 60-70 throws, at that distance. Continuing to increase the distance and throws, and just seeing where it goes. I’m not sure how far I’ll go there, but that’s the progression.”

Ohtani is not expected to play for the Dodgers until next season following reconstructive surgery he underwent last September. But his excellence on the mound was a significant factor in the mammoth 10-year, $700 million contract he signed with the Dodgers in December.

He began pitching in March and could progress to pitching in simulated games by September, according to the Dodgers.

Before his right elbow broke last season, Ohtani compiled a 3.14 ERA and a 10-5 record with 167 strikeouts in 132 innings. For his MLB career, he has a 3.01 ERA, 38-19 record and 608 Ks in 481 2/3 innings (11.4 average per nine frames).

The two-time American League MVP is once again putting up MVP-caliber numbers as a hitter, leading MLB with a .336 average along with a .621 slugging percentage and 1.024 OPS, 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 35 RBI and 13 bases stolen.

Ohtani is also dealing with a hamstring injury caused by a pickoff throw last week. The injury did not cause him to miss any games.

But they also told him not to strain his hamstring too much, which was apparent in a triple he hit against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. If Ohtani had been able to run at full speed, it’s possible he would have hit an inside-the-park home run on the play.

Ohtani told reporters that the hamstring is “getting better every day” but doesn’t believe it is affecting his swing, despite hitting .211 (8-for-38) in his last 10 games.