• Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff WriterMay 27, 2024, 02:34 PM ET

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      ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.

NEW YORK — While Shohei Ohtani has remained one of the most productive hitters in the majors this season, he continues making progress in his recovery to getting back on the mound after Tommy John surgery.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar said he started throwing from 60 feet last week and reached 80 mph.

“Just progressively increasing the distance,” Ohtani said through an interpreter Monday before the Dodgers’ series opener against the New York Mets was postponed. “Usually anywhere from 60-70 pitches, in that distance. Just continuing to increase the distance and the pitches, and just seeing where that goes. I’m not quite sure how far I’m going to go out there, but that’s the progression.”

Ohtani underwent the elbow surgery last September as a member of the Los Angeles Angels after going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings across 23 starts. He is limited to only hitting this season and is on pace to post the best offensive year of his major league career.

Ohtani, 29, entered Monday leading the majors in batting average (.336) and total bases (131) in 53 games as the Dodgers’ designated hitter. He was tops in the National League in slugging percentage (.621), OPS (1.024) and OPS+ (188).

Ohtani has recently played through a hamstring contusion he suffered when he was hit by a pickoff throw last week. He has remained in the lineup, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters over the weekend that he was advised to not push the hamstring.

Ohtani said the injury has affected his running but not his swing.

“It’s getting better day by day,” he said. “Today is definitely a lot better than yesterday.”