Shohei Ohtani donned a Dodgers uniform for the first time, marking a significant step in his recovery following his second surgery to repair collateral ligaments that he had issues with in 2023.
In his outing, which was anticipated to be brief, he pitched just one inning, giving up one run on two hits while throwing 28 pitches.
During this short stint, Ohtani leaned on his fastball, using it about 32.1% of the time, and even reached a top speed of 100.2 mph.
His first challenge came in a matchup against Fernando Tatis Jr., who hit a single to right field after six pitches. This was Ohtani’s return to a real game for the first time since August 2023. A second hit followed shortly after off Louis Arreaz.
The decision to put Ohtani back on the mound that Monday caught many off guard, including Dodgers reliever Alex Vescia, who remarked, “I didn’t know today,” when hearing that the two-way player was set to pitch.
Manager Dave Roberts had hinted the night before that Ohtani might take the mound again soon, which preceded the surprising announcement that he would be pitching against the Padres later that evening.
Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomez informed reporters that it was the right time to bring Ohtani back after observing his performance in a simulated game. He noted, “It’s like it’s a bit like taking the next step and finishing rehabilitation at the major league level. This has no playbook, so it has to be a continuous conversation.”
Roberts also expressed that Ohtani seemed ready for this next phase of rehabilitation, suggesting that he had exhausted all other options in practice. He remarked, “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 the major league mound?”
Even though Ohtani hadn’t pitched since 2023, he remained a formidable presence at the plate, boasting a .297 batting average this season, along with 25 home runs and 41 RBIs.
