Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound was nothing short of a spectacle, as he stepped back into the spotlight for his first start in nearly two years. The anticipation in the air was palpable, with over 50,000 fans present, each one eager to witness the magic that is Ohtani. Despite planning to ease himself back into action with a fastball in the mid-90s range, the competitive spirit took over. The next thing he knew, Ohtani was delivering pitches that had scouts buzzing.
His tenth pitch of the night clocked in at a blistering 100.2 mph, with his 17th tickling 99.9 mph. While this electrifying display had the fans roaring, it raised eyebrows among the Dodgers’ coaching staff, who are keen on being cautious with his pitching rehabilitation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts couldn’t help but smile when he remarked, “I was just kind of hoping for a more tempered 97, 96 than 100. But when you’re a competitor, you’re just trying to get guys out. And if you have 100 in the tank, you’re going to use it. And that’s what he does.”
Despite that show-stopping radar reading, the overall performance was straightforward. Ohtani recorded just one inning, allowing a single run on a sacrifice fly after needing 28 pitches to complete his three outs. On the offensive side, he went 2-for-4 as the designated hitter, striking out twice but contributing significantly with a couple of RBIs.
What truly resonated from this outing was not just the statistics but the unmistakable feeling that Ohtani – the two-way phenom – is back and ready to make his mark again. “Not quite happy with the results overall,” Ohtani noted through an interpreter, “but I think the biggest takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to go out for my next outing.” This statement encapsulates the optimism swirling around Ohtani’s return.
Leading up to the game, excitement reached a fever pitch when the Dodgers aired a hype video celebrating Ohtani’s return, capturing the energy of the Dodger Stadium crowd moments before the first pitch. The scene was electric as he took the bullpen mound, preparing to face the Padres’ potent lineup.
His first moment on the mound came with a 97.6 mph sinker to Fernando Tatis Jr., who eventually reached base on a shallow fly ball that barely eluded center fielder Andy Pages. With Tatis advancing to second on a wild pitch and Luis Arraez following up with a line drive single, Ohtani faced the pressure head-on. After a notable strikeout that was negated by a questionable call, he gave up the game’s first run via a sacrifice fly, but he didn’t dwell on it – grounding out the next two batters with poise.
Switching gears, Ohtani jogged to the dugout, looking every bit the star as he prepared to hit. His quick interactions, like declining a sip of water from pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and accepting a towel from field coordinator Bob Geren to wipe his brow, highlighted his focused demeanor. Awaiting him was Dylan Cease, the Padres’ ace, and Roberts couldn’t hide his admiration: “I was kind of fanboying for like half an inning.”
Though Ohtani struck out in his first at-bat, he quickly rebounded, delivering a two-out, opposite-field double in the third inning to tie the game at 1-1. He followed that with a base hit that was pivotal in the Dodgers’ five-run inning, effectively sealing the game.
“He never stops surprising me,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy remarked, and Ohtani’s history backs that sentiment. Over the last few years, he established himself as a transformative two-way player, boasting an impressive resume that includes two unanimous MVP awards, a staggering .277/.379/.585 slash line, and a 2.84 ERA with 542 strikeouts as a pitcher. This latest chapter in his career began under a cloud of uncertainty after surgery for an ulnar collateral ligament tear and a separate labrum tear. Yet, here he was, taking the mound again.
As he continues to navigate this comeback, the Dodgers’ strategy is to gradually increase his workload. The plan is for Ohtani to pitch every six to eight days, building up his innings as he settles back into a traditional starting pitcher role. While he will simultaneously hit daily, the team remains cognizant of the physical demands that come with being a two-way player.
Post-game, after an exhilarating night, Ohtani reflected on the importance of his next steps. When asked about his next start, he stated with a mixture of caution and confidence, “That’s my expectation. But I did hit 100 today, so I want to see first where my body feels and how it reacts.” For fans and analysts alike, this feels like just the beginning of a saga that promises to be as thrilling as Ohtani himself.
