Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani made his long-awaited return to the mound Monday night at Dodger Stadium, marking his first pitching appearance since August 2023 when he was on the Angels. Facing the San Diego Padres, Ohtani started the game as the Dodgers’ starting pitcher while also serving as the team’s leadoff hitter.
Ohtani had not pitched since undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023, and his recovery was further delayed after he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during the World Series. That injury required offseason surgery.
His pitching outing was brief by design, lasting just one inning and 28 pitches as the team begins to gradually build up his workload. Ohtani threw 16 strikes and 12 balls, allowing two hits and one earned run on a sacrifice fly. He did not issue any walks or record a strikeout. His fastball topped out at 100 MPH, a promising sign following his second Tommy John surgery. Though he managed to get two strikes on each of the first four batters, he struggled with command and needed 28 pitches to complete the inning.
At the plate, Ohtani continued to produce. He went 2 for 4 with two RBIs as the designated hitter in the Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Padres. In the third inning, he hit a double to left center, driving in Andy Pages to tie the game at 1-1. An inning later, Ohtani added another RBI with a single to score Pages again and extended the lead to 5-2.
Despite holding a division-leading 43–29 record, the Dodgers have had a difficult season on the mound, with 14 pitchers currently on the injured list, including key starters Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Blake Snell. Shohei Ohtani’s return to pitching comes at a crucial time. He is expected to take the mound every six to eight days, gradually increasing his workload by adding at least one inning per outing as he works back toward a traditional starter’s role. He will continue hitting daily as the team’s designated hitter.
