VIDEO: Angels' Shohei Ohtani Threw off a Mound for the First Time Since Tommy John Surgery

Watching Shohei Ohtani light up the stat sheet on the offensive side of the ball with the Los Angeles Angels makes MLB fans forget that he underwent Tommy John surgery this past October. Now fans can expect to see more of him soon. On Wednesday, Ohtani threw a 45-pitch bullpen session, marking the first time the pitcher/slugger tossed off a pitching mound since going under the knife.

"It felt really comfortable," Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, via MLB.com. "It felt good to get on there again. As long as my arm reacts well, I’ll keep on throwing, keep on going back out there. I have to see how it reacts tomorrow."

The plan is for Ohtani to throw from a mound again this upcoming Saturday. Despite this latest progress, the goal isn't for the Japanese sensation to return to pitching this season. Rather, it's to get him ready for a regular offseason pitching regimen and get him going for 2020.

While it's tremendous progress in his recovery, Ohtani will be standing in a batter's box rather than the pitcher's bump for the remainder of the year.