Ohtani Dodgers Debut: Pitching Performance & Highlights
- Los Angeles — Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers' designated hitter and pitcher, made his long-awaited return to the mound Monday night against the San Diego Padres.
- Manny Machado then hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Tatis Jr.
- His fastball touched 100.2 mph, with 14 pitches registering at or above 98 mph, showcasing his power despite the long layoff.
Shohei Ohtani‘s pitching role is back! See how the Dodgers‘ star returned to the mound Monday night after nearly two years, following elbow surgery and a huge contract. Ohtani’s fastball hit 100.2 mph, showcasing his power. News Directory 3 has the exclusive highlights of his return against the Padres, detailing his first inning struggles, including key pitches and his transition to the lead-off hitter position. Learn about the specific data during the memorable performance with pitch counts, fastball speeds, and more. Discover the dual role Ohtani is set to play this season, and how the Dodgers will manage his workload. The team anticipates his crucial contributions as they aim for a World Series. Discover what’s next for the Dodgers’ “unicorn.”
Shohei Ohtani’s pitching Role Returns for Dodgers After Surgery
Updated June 17, 2025
Los Angeles — Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ designated hitter and pitcher, made his long-awaited return to the mound Monday night against the San Diego Padres. This marked his first pitching appearance in nearly two years, following a second major elbow surgery and a record-breaking contract with los Angeles 18 months ago. The anticipation surrounding Ohtani’s return highlighted his unique “unicorn” status in Major League Baseball.
The first inning proved eventful. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis arraez hit consecutive singles off Ohtani. Manny Machado then hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Tatis Jr. to score. Ohtani then settled, inducing two groundouts to end the inning, leaving arraez stranded.
Ohtani threw 28 pitches, 16 for strikes. His fastball touched 100.2 mph, with 14 pitches registering at or above 98 mph, showcasing his power despite the long layoff.
After his pitching stint, Ohtani transitioned to his role as lead-off hitter for the Dodgers. He struck out swinging against Padres starter Dylan Cease in his first at-bat.
What’s next
Ohtani is expected to continue his dual role as designated hitter and pitcher, with the Dodgers carefully monitoring his workload as he returns to full form.The team anticipates his contributions will be crucial as they contend for a World Series title.