Shohei Ohtani finally pitches for Dodgers as MLB sensation makes return to mound after nearly two years

By OLIVER SALT

Shohei Ohtani made his highly-anticipated pitching debut for the LA Dodgers on Monday night after nearly two years away from the mound. 

The two-way phenom had not been able to pitch in Major League Baseball since undergoing Tommy John surgery back in September 2023.

Yet having been given the green light by team medics and his surgeon, Ohtani got back up and running as the Dodgers’ starting pitcher against the San Diego Padres.

He allowed two hits and a run from 12 balls and 28 pitches in his first inning, recording 16 strikes.

Ohtani was not best pleased with one check-swing call during the inning, which kept Padres star Manny Machado alive before he hit a sac fly on the next ball.

Despite not pitching in an MLB game for 22 months, his top fastball velocity was also clocked at an impressive 100.2mph.

Shohei Ohtani made his highly-anticipated pitching debut for the LA Dodgers on Monday night

The two-way phenom had not been able to pitch in Major League Baseball since Sep. 2023

Nevertheless, the Japanese sensation’s long-awaited return to the mound lasted just one inning as the Dodgers continue to treat their star man’s arm with caution.

Ohtani had not pitched in a game since August 23, 2023, when he got hurt during a start for city rivals the LA Angels against Cincinnati. 

He first had Tommy John surgery back on October 1, 2018, before undergoing the op for a second time on September 19, 2023 after injuring himself playing for the Angels.

His second Tommy John procedure was performed by renowned sports surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said would determine the timeline of his comeback in conjunction with the team’s training staff. 

In the second season of a $700million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, Ohtani paused his pitching work after a mound session on February 25 to prepare for opening day as a hitter, then started bullpen sessions on March 29 and batting practice on May 25.

A three-time MVP, the 30-year-old is hitting .297 with an NL-leading 1.035 OPS, 25 homers and 41 RBIs. A batter only last year in his first season with the Dodgers, he hit .290 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases.

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Shohei Ohtani finally pitches for Dodgers as MLB sensation makes return to mound after nearly two years

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