Slugging ace pitcher Shohei Otani, the Pacific League's 2016 MVP, returned to work on Tuesday, when he batted for the first time in nearly three months.

Otani's last game with the Nippon Ham Fighters was on April 8, when he suffered a thigh-muscle injury after a thundering start to the season. In his long-awaited return, the left-handed-hitting slugger struck out swinging at a 2-2 changeup from rookie Ken Okamoto in the eighth inning of a 6-0 loss to the SoftBank Hawks at Yafuoku Dome.

"I went up there to get good swings," the 22-year-old Otani said. "It's not that easy to get a hit."

Splitting his time pitching and hitting since he turned pro in 2013, Otani has had his share of nagging injuries. Last season, he didn't pitch for over a month due to a blister. But during that time he practiced his craft as the PL's best designated hitter.

During last year's Japan Series, he rolled his right ankle and an examination revealed he had a bone spur in that foot.

Otani aggravated his ankle injury while running the bases in November with the national team and that forced him out of March's World Baseball Classic.

That disappointment was compounded by April's injury, but at least one person was philosophical about the latest injury blow to baseball's most intriguing player.

Otani's father, Toru, sent his son a message, saying, "If there are baseball gods, this is their message telling you to rest."

Still unable to run at full speed, although he has resumed pitching practice, Otani has been taking his rehab in his long stride.

"I have to believe that I am getting a little better, day by day," he said.