Shohei Ohtani makes his Dodgers pitching debut

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani made his highly anticipated pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, returning to the mound for the first time in nearly two years. He faced off against the San Diego Padres, leading the Dodgers to a 6-3 victory at Dodger Stadium in front of 53,207 fans.

Pitching in a Major League game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023, Ohtani threw one inning, allowing two hits and no walks. Ohtani received a standing ovation from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd when he took the mound. He threw 28 pitches, 16 for strikes, mixing in his fastball, splitter, and sweeper with ease in a controlled opener role. 

"I'm not quite happy with the results, but there is a lot I could take away from tonight's outing and today's game," Ohtani said.

Ohtani reached 100 mph and hit 99 mph multiple times in the first inning. Roberts mentioned that he expected to see him around 95-97 mph, as he was surprised by Ohtani's command and aggressiveness on the mound.

"The game's intensity really allowed me to throw a little harder," Ohtani said. "I was able to adjust back to be able to throw 95-96 against Bogaerts in the last at-bat."

It marked a key milestone in his recovery and was his first outing as a pitcher since signing a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers last December.

“First of all, I’m very grateful for all the staff members, people who supported me through this whole progress,” Ohtani said. “I’m very grateful that I’m back here healthy and pitching again."

Ohtani, who also played as the designated hitter and batted leadoff, went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and an RBI single. In his first at-bat of the game, after walking off the mound, Ohtani struck out swinging. Dave Roberts mentioned that in the future, he might consider moving Ohtani down the batting order to allow him time to catch his breath and regroup for a more productive at-bat. This was evident on Monday when he struck out in the first inning.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said pregame that Ohtani would be limited to one or two innings, calling the outing an “opener-style” appearance. The team plans to gradually increase his workload, possibly utilizing him in short stints out of the bullpen as the season progresses.

“It’s a big boost for us, especially given our current injuries on the pitching staff,” Roberts said. “Shohei looked sharp, confident, and most importantly, healthy.”

The return comes at a critical time for Los Angeles, which is dealing with a depleted rotation. Starters Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler are all currently on the injured list.

Ohtani’s presence on the mound, even in a limited role, gives the Dodgers a two-way threat unlike any other in baseball. He entered Monday leading the National League in home runs (25), slugging percentage (.642) and OPS (1.034).

The game also saw a surge in ticket prices, with fans paying an average of nearly $140 just to get in, more than double the cost a day earlier. Some premium seats were listed for over $30,000 on secondary markets.

Ohtani, a two-time AL MVP during his time with the Angels, now begins a new chapter on the mound in Dodger blue. His next pitching appearance will depend on how his arm responds to the outing, according to Roberts.

For now, the Dodgers and their fans can exhale — their $700 million man is back doing what only he can: dominate from both sides of the game.

The night was highlighted by Ohtani's performance on the mound, but the Dodgers' offense ignited in the fourth inning. Freddie Freeman opened and closed the inning as the Dodgers batted around. Teoscar Hernandez reached base on an infield single, followed by Will Smith, who doubled to left field. Max Muncy then contributed a two-run single to center.

Tensions rose when Andy Pages was hit by a pitch, nearly igniting a brawl as both benches stood ready to rush the field, but the situation quickly calmed down. Three consecutive singles from Tommy Edman, Ohtani, and Mookie Betts gave the Dodgers a commanding 6-2 lead.

Padres right-hander Dylan Cease pitched five innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs while striking out nine batters. Although Cease (2-6, 4.69 ERA) did not deliver the performance he had hoped for, he helped the Padres by eating up innings after throwing 101 pitches.

The Dodgers have won three out of their first four games against the Padres this season. Following Monday's victory, the Dodgers hold a 2.5-game lead over the Giants, who are in second place. Meanwhile, the Padres are now four games behind the Dodgers, placing them in third place in the National League West Division.