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LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2025
Ohtani’s Mound Return: A Baseball Moment
Shohei Ohtani is set to return to the pitcher’s mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, marking his frist MLB pitching appearance in nearly two years.
- Shohei Ohtani will start Monday night against the San Diego Padres.
- This will be Ohtani’s first pitching appearance since August 2023.
- Ohtani underwent elbow surgery in September 2023.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani is “ready to go.”
Baseball fans, get ready. Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is slated to start Monday night’s game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. This highly anticipated moment marks Ohtani’s return to pitching after a nearly two-year hiatus, which will be the first time Ohtani has pitched in a big league game since August 23, 2023.
“Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,” said Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants.”He’s ready. It’s time to go.”
The Road to Recovery
Ohtani, the reigning national League MVP, underwent elbow surgery on September 19, 2023. As then, he has focused solely on hitting, before resuming bullpen sessions on march 29. Last Tuesday in san Diego, he faced live hitters for the first time, throwing 44 pitches over three simulated innings.
The Plan of Action
The plan for Monday night is for Ohtani to serve as an opener, potentially pitching one or two innings before right-hander Ben Casparius takes over. Roberts stated, “He’s going to open for us. The live simulated games have run its course and he’s ready to make his debut on the mound. It’s great for the game. I’m excited for Shohei.”
ohtani himself told reporters after his two-homer performance on saturday night that he was ready to pitch in a big league game.
Shohei Ohtani on his two-homer night tonight for the Dodgers, his recent home run drought prior to that, how his pitching is going and if he’s close to returning to the mound, and if he really will make a start before the All Star break. pic.twitter.com/zCb75T0Y1d
– Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) June 15, 2025
A pitcher. A slugger. A $700 million miracle. It’s not frequently enough a Monday night in June becomes appointment television-but when the unicorn returns to the hill, the sport pays attention.
“He said doing the three innings live is taxing on his body,” said Roberts about why the team changed course from their original plan of letting Ohtani ramp up to five or more innings in simulated games with his debut expected to come sometime after the All-Star break. “He’s ready to pitch in a major league game, and he let us know that.”
The Bigger Picture
While ohtani hasn’t pitched a single inning this season, he’s still been the Dodgers’ most valuable player-and arguably the face of baseball. Thru June 15, he leads the National League with a 1.035 OPS, while batting .297 with 25 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.
The timing of Ohtani’s return is crucial for the Dodgers, who are grappling with a wave of injuries to key pitchers. With innings at a premium and the postseason picture sharpening, Ohtani’s return offers a glimmer of relief and a whole lot of hope.
“This is very exciting,” added Roberts of Ohtani making his Dodgers debut on the mound. “I’m a baseball fan first. The anticipation here for the game, man it’s going to be bananas.”
Come Monday night, when the No. 17 jersey jogs out from the Dodgers dugout and takes that slow, intentional walk to the mound, the roar won’t just be for a pitch. It’ll be for the moment. A moment 659 days in the making, worth every second of the wait.
Understanding ohtani’s Dual Role
shohei Ohtani’s ability to excel as both a hitter and a pitcher sets him apart. His return to the mound adds another layer to his already impressive career. Understanding the unique challenges and rewards of Ohtani’s dual role is key to appreciating his comeback and anticipating his future impact.
Ohtani’s simultaneous presence in the batter’s box and on the pitcher’s mound is a remarkable feat of modern baseball. He is a true anomaly, a player capable of dominating at the highest level in two distinct and demanding roles.
Did you know? Ohtani is the first player as
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