Ohtani Dodgers Debut: 100 MPH & Key Takeaways
- Shohei Ohtani,the Los Angeles Dodgers star,made his return to the mound Monday night against the San Diego Padres.
- Ohtani started the game, throwing 28 pitches in one inning.He allowed one run on two hits, without recording a strikeout or a walk against the five batters he...
- Despite the anticipation, Ohtani wasn't at his peak, allowing one run on two hits.Fernando Tatis Jr.
Shohei Ohtani electrified fans in his Dodgers debut, reaching a blistering 100 mph on his fastball! This highly anticipated return saw Ohtani pitch one inning against the Padres, a crucial moment after his recovery from surgery. Tho he conceded a run,the primary takeaway is the incredible velocity displayed by the star,averaging 99.1 mph on his four-seamers. Despite a few command issues and some favorable calls, the Dodgers were pleased with the planned single-inning appearance. News Directory 3 has the full report, detailing Ohtani’s progress and what’s next for the pitching phenom. Discover what’s next in his journey back to peak form.
Shohei Ohtani Returns to Mound for Dodgers,Fastball Hits 100 MPH
Updated June 17,2025
Shohei Ohtani,the Los Angeles Dodgers star,made his return to the mound Monday night against the San Diego Padres. This marked Ohtani’s first pitching appearance since Aug. 23, 2023, when he was still with the Los Angeles Angels. Elbow surgery and a torn labrum had delayed his Dodgers pitching debut.
Ohtani started the game, throwing 28 pitches in one inning.He allowed one run on two hits, without recording a strikeout or a walk against the five batters he faced. His fastball reached 100 mph.
Despite the anticipation, Ohtani wasn’t at his peak, allowing one run on two hits.Fernando Tatis Jr. reached on a bloop single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Luis Arraez then singled,pushing Tatis to third,who scored on Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly. Ohtani finished the inning with two groundouts.
Ohtani’s command wavered,particularly on the glove side,and he benefited from some favorable strike calls. He reached three-ball counts on three hitters and threw 16 strikes out of 28 pitches, generating three swings and misses.
The Dodgers intended Ohtani’s outing to be a brief “opener” appearance. the single inning pitched was pre-planned and not due to any struggles.
While command may still be developing after surgery, Ohtani’s fastball showed extraordinary velocity. He threw nine four-seamers, averaging 99.1 mph and topping out at 100.2 mph, the second-fastest pitch by a Dodger this season. In 2023, his fastball averaged 96.8 mph.
What’s next
Ohtani is expected to continue his progression, with the dodgers carefully monitoring his workload and command as he gets further removed from surgery.