The long wait is finally over for Los Angeles Dodgers fans as Shohei Ohtani prepares to make his highly anticipated pitching debut for the team. After a lengthy recovery from elbow surgery, the two-way superstar is set to take the mound on Monday, June 16, 2025, against the San Diego Padres in the opener of their four-game series. This will mark Ohtani's first pitching appearance since August 23, 2023, when he last pitched for the Los Angeles Angels.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the news shortly after the team’s 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night. Roberts expressed his excitement and noted that Ohtani is likely to pitch one or two innings as an opener, a role designed to ease him back into full pitching duties. "He's ready to pitch in a big-league game," Roberts told reporters, highlighting Ohtani’s eagerness to return to the mound. "Shohei's getting antsy, which is a good thing for us... I don't know if it's going to be one or two innings, but my guess is probably an inning to start."
Ohtani’s return to pitching comes after a challenging period. The 30-year-old star underwent right elbow surgery in September 2023, which followed a torn ulnar collateral ligament diagnosis that ended his 2023 season prematurely. Prior to that, he had Tommy John surgery in October 2018. Since signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2024 season, Ohtani has been primarily a designated hitter as he recovered from surgery and focused on his batting.
Despite not pitching in 2024, Ohtani’s offensive numbers were nothing short of historic. He posted a .310 batting average with a league-leading 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases. His ability to dominate at the plate earned him National League MVP honors and helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series championship last season. This combination of power, speed, and versatility has made Ohtani a unique talent in Major League Baseball.
While Ohtani’s bat remains a critical asset for the Dodgers, his pitching prowess is equally impressive. In his MLB pitching career, he boasts a 3.01 ERA, a 142 ERA+ (which adjusts for ballpark and league factors), and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings. His best season came in 2022 with the Angels when he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts over 166 innings, finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
Ohtani last pitched in August 2023, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings. His return to the mound after 664 days will be gradual, with the Dodgers planning to limit his innings initially to manage his workload carefully. Unlike most pitchers returning from major injuries who undergo minor-league rehab assignments, Ohtani is skipping that step. The Dodgers need his bat in the lineup, so he will rehab his pitching while remaining with the MLB team and serving as a designated hitter after his pitching stint.
The Dodgers’ pitching staff has been severely impacted by injuries this season, making Ohtani’s return even more crucial. Key starters like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have been sidelined since April due to shoulder inflammation, and rookie Roki Sasaki has been out since May with a right shoulder impingement. Roberts confirmed that Sasaki has been shut down from throwing and is unlikely to be part of the Dodgers’ long-term pitching plans this season. "I think that’s what the mindset should be," Roberts said. "Being thrust into this environment certainly was a big undertaking for him, and now you layer in the health part and the fact he’s a starting pitcher, knowing what the build-up (required to return) entails... I think that’s the prudent way to go about it." Sasaki’s fastball velocity has dropped since his time in Japan, and after a cortisone injection and some discomfort, no further scans are planned for now.
Meanwhile, Emmet Sheehan, who has been out since spring training 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, is finishing a rehab assignment and is expected to be activated soon to bolster the rotation. Roberts mentioned there is a "very high likelihood" Sheehan will be activated on Tuesday or Wednesday to fill a rotation spot.
Ohtani’s return as a two-way player also offers a strategic advantage. Because he serves as both a pitcher and a hitter, he does not count against the Dodgers’ 13-pitcher roster limit. This effectively allows the team to add an extra pitcher without having to demote anyone, providing much-needed depth amid the injury crisis.
In recent weeks, Ohtani has ramped up his throwing program, facing live hitters multiple times. Roberts explained that Ohtani informed the team and medical staff that the effort required to throw live was taxing, and it made sense to transition those efforts into actual game innings. "You’re at a point of, I don’t know if it’s diminishing returns. But he’s ready to pitch in a major league game. He let us know that," Roberts said. "He’s getting very eager, getting very excited. I think that there’s a point where, in hearing from Shohei, that the effort that it takes to throw live and play a game, let’s use those bullets in a game." The stage is set for a thrilling moment at Dodger Stadium when Ohtani takes the mound Monday night.
The Dodgers currently lead the National League West with a 43-29 record, holding a two-game advantage over the San Francisco Giants and three games over the Padres. With the division race heating up, Ohtani’s pitching comeback couldn’t come at a better time for Los Angeles.
As Ohtani embarks on this next chapter, fans and teammates alike are eager to see how the two-way phenomenon will balance his dual roles. While his pitching workload will be carefully managed, his impact on the Dodgers’ roster and championship aspirations is undeniable. Monday’s game against the Padres will be a significant milestone in Ohtani’s remarkable career, marking the return of a player who continues to redefine what it means to be a baseball superstar.
