Shohei Ohtani will start Monday against Padres

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Sunday evening that Shohei Ohtani will make his first start on the mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Ohtani's debut for the Dodgers will take place against the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

After signing Ohtani in December 2023, the Dodgers were aware that he would not be available to pitch in the 2024 season. Despite Ohtani’s absence from the pitching roster last season, the Dodgers successfully won the World Series, even with a depleted pitching staff.

Currently, the pitching staff faces a similar need for pitching. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned on Sunday that Roki Sasaki's return to the mound this season is a genuine possibility.

Since joining the Angels in 2018, Ohtani has made 86 starts, achieving an overall record of 38 wins and 19 losses with a 3.01 ERA. His best season as a pitcher was in 2022, when he started 28 games, finishing with a record of 15-9 and an impressive 2.33 ERA. During that season, Ohtani also recorded a career-high 219 strikeouts and pitched a career-high 166 innings.

The Dodgers are facing a unique situation as they prepare to work with a two-way superstar in his second season with the team. Manager Dave Roberts, along with every baseball fan, has been eagerly anticipating this moment, as Ohtani will once again pitch and hit in the same game.

“Shohei is getting antsy,” Roberts said. He’s ready to pitch in a big-league game. My guess an inning to start.”

Ohtani spoke after the game on Saturday night and responded to a question about the possibility of him pitching before the All-Star break. His interesting response led me to believe that it might happen sooner than expected.

After 21 months away from Major League pitching, Ohtani will start, likely pitching only one inning while also serving as the designated hitter in the lineup.

Ohtani, 30, is batting .297 with 25 home runs and 41 runs batted in this season.