The word is finally in: the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ two-way superstar, Shohei Ohtani, will make his highly anticipated pitching debut for the Dodgers on Monday, according to manager Dave Roberts.
When the Dodgers signed Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract at the beginning of last season, they were doing so with hopes that he would return to the mound and fulfill his unicorn features. Instead, Ohtani has been sidelined actively rehabbing from a UCL tear that required reconstructive surgery in September of 2023. In 2024, while Ohtani was not pitching, all he did was win the MVP award unanimously and become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season. He has not pitched since late August of 2023, when he was removed just a couple of innings into his last outing.
It is expected that Ohtani will serve as the starter for Monday’s contest and the series opener against the San Diego Padres. This is what Roberts had to say following Sunday night’s victory over the San Francisco Giants:
“He’s ready to pitch in a major league game.” “He let us know that.”
Ohtani’s Journey Back to the Mound
Originally, Ohtani was supposed to return to the mound sometime in mid-May, but there were a couple of setbacks. He started throwing live bullpen sessions at the beginning of June and had worked himself up to around 40 pitches, which will likely be his cap when he’s in the game. The 30-year-old, on the verge of winning his third consecutive MVP award, did not need a rehab start with any of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ affiliates. Once he started throwing live BP sessions, there were rumblings that he may not return until after the All-Star break. However, a player of Ohtani’s stature and dedication to improvement was determined to return as quickly as possible. Ohtani’s progression was slowed somewhat before the 2025 season when he tore his labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series.
What Ohtani’s Return to the Mound Means for Dodgers Pitching Staff?
Ohtani returning to the mound could not come at a better time, as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching staff has been plagued with injuries this season. They hope to return Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow soon, but whatever contributions Ohtani can bring are absolutely welcome. He also does not take up an extra roster spot due to his two-way status. All eyes will certainly be on Ohtani Monday for as many pitches he can throw, but no doubt a huge update for the Dodgers pitching staff, and it’s fair to assume pitching coach Mark Prior and Roberts will take it very slow with Ohtani on a week-to-week basis to ensure he stays healthy, and the Dodgers can use him for an October push.
In 2023, as a pitcher, he started 23 games, throwing 132 innings while recording a 3.14 ERA and striking out 167 batters. He has truly yet to “struggle” as a pitcher. In three seasons where he has thrown more than 130 innings, his ERA has been below 3.20 in each season, and he’s recorded more than 150 strikeouts in all of those years (2021-2023). It’s unclear how much Ohtani will be stretched out this season as the All-Star break approaches, but if he’s any semblance of his former self on the mound, it’s a scary sight for the rest of MLB.
Shohei Ohtani Set to Make Dodgers Pitching Debut vs. San Diego Padres on Monday