Shohei Ohtani made his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night against the San Diego Padres, 21 months after undergoing elbow surgery. Despite giving up two hits with two strikes and allowing a run, Ohtani impressed fans with his fastball reaching 100.2 mph—the second-fastest by a Dodgers pitcher this season.
Ohtani threw 28 pitches in the first inning, with 16 strikes, and showed signs of exertion but maintained his composure, warming up to Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good.” After finishing his inning on the mound, he immediately prepared to bat, striking out initially but later hitting a run-scoring double and a two-out RBI single, helping the Dodgers take a 5-2 lead.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed excitement, calling Ohtani’s return highly anticipated. He praised Ohtani’s readiness and strength to pitch at the major league level. During his inning on the mound, Ohtani faced strong hitters, allowing a single, a wild pitch, another single, and a sacrifice fly that scored a run. He was then replaced by reliever Anthony Banda.
Roberts shared his thrill in witnessing Ohtani both pitch and bat, calling it an incredible experience. The game was made available for free streaming on MLB.tv.
Ohtani’s return to pitching came about three weeks after he first faced batters in simulated settings. Throughout this time, he remained a key hitter in the Dodgers’ lineup. The team decided to move forward with Ohtani pitching at the major league level due to the intense demands of his dual role. Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes highlighted the exceptional nature of Ohtani’s rehab, noting that while most pitchers go through minor league assignments post-injury, Ohtani is an exception.
Manager Roberts emphasized the importance of trusting Ohtani’s own assessment of his readiness. Though Roberts briefly considered batting Ohtani lower in the order, the player preferred to bat leadoff, which he felt comfortable with for now. Gomes pointed out the challenge in balancing Ohtani’s batting strengths with his pitching duties, ensuring careful management of his workload.
At the time of this game, Ohtani was batting .290 with 25 home runs—leading the National League—as well as 41 RBIs and 11 stolen bases from the leadoff spot. Though Ohtani won’t pitch deep into games immediately, his presence is expected to strengthen a Dodgers pitching staff heavily impacted by injuries, including key starters and relievers.
Roberts and the coaching staff planned to closely monitor Ohtani’s pitching mechanics, command, and delivery, expecting a strong performance. Because Ohtani is already rostered as the designated hitter, the Dodgers can add him as a pitcher without making additional roster moves. Roberts noted that Ohtani’s pitching schedule will be flexible, with ample recovery time between outings.
Ohtani played a major role in the Dodgers winning last season’s World Series, earning his first title and his third MVP award (first in the National League), under a 10-year, $700 million contract. Before joining the Dodgers, Ohtani hadn’t pitched since 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 23 starts before his last appearance in August 2023 when he was injured.
This comeback follows two major elbow surgeries—Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a second operation in September 2023. Over his major league career, Ohtani has achieved a 38-19 record with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in nearly 482 innings pitched. Gomes stated the main goal is to have Ohtani strong and effective during the crucial stretch run and October postseason.
Coincidentally, Ohtani’s pitching debut occurred the same day his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, began a nearly five-year federal prison sentence for bank and tax fraud after stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani.
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