Shohei Ohtani made his pitching debut in a Dodgers uniform, taking a significant step in his recovery from his second ulnar collateral ligament surgery in 2023. In a highly anticipated return, Ohtani pitched one inning, allowing one run on two hits while throwing 28 pitches, helping the Dodgers secure a 6-3 victory over the Padres on Monday.
During his brief appearance, Ohtani relied on his fastball 32.1 percent of the time, reaching a maximum speed of 100.2 mph. His first challenge came with Fernando Tatis Jr. at bat, who managed to single to right field after a six-pitch duel, marking Ohtani’s first competitive pitch since August 23, 2023. Luis Arráez followed with the second hit against Ohtani in the next at-bat.
The decision to have Ohtani return to the mound was unexpected, including for Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, who admitted to USA Today that he “had no idea that today” would be the day Ohtani took the mound again. Manager Dave Roberts hinted on Sunday night that Ohtani could soon return, and later announced the surprising news that the two-way star would start against the Padres.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes shared his thoughts with reporters before Ohtani’s first outing in over 14 months, stating that after observing his performance during simulated games, it was the right time for him to pitch at the major league level. “It got to the point where, hey, it feels like we should take that next step and almost look to finish the rehab at the major league level,” Gomes explained. “There is no playbook for this, so it has to be an ongoing conversation.”
Roberts also noted that Ohtani expressed his readiness to advance in his rehabilitation, feeling he had exhausted all options in simulated scenarios. “It’s more like, ‘well, I don’t think there’s anything else to do. I’m ready to go. What else do I need to do to get on a major league mound?’” Roberts said.
Though Ohtani had not pitched since 2023, he has continued to excel as a hitter. This season, he boasts a .300 batting average with 25 home runs and 43 RBIs.