MESA, Ariz. — Throwing live batting practice is a routine part of spring training for starting pitchers, a transitional step between bullpen workouts and appearing in exhibition games.
Noah Syndergaard's live batting-practice session Thursday was anything but routine, and not just because Shohei Ohtani, the reigning American League most valuable player, was among the hitters facing the Angels' new right-hander and a dozen or so front-office executives were on hand to observe.
Syndergaard, the former New York Mets star who signed a one-year, $21 million deal in November, threw his curveball off a mound for the first time in two years. His fastball, which averaged 97.8 mph before he had Tommy John surgery in March 2020, appeared to have its usual zip. He also threw his slider and change-up.