The choice got here right down to Shohei Ohtani.
Because the Los Angeles Dodgers weighed how, and when, the two-way sensation would make his long-awaited return to an MLB mound, Ohtani made it clear he felt able to go.
That cleared Ohtani to make his first begin of the season on Monday night time in opposition to the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.
“He’s ready to pitch in a major league game,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned Sunday. “He let us know that.”
Ohtani was set to pitch because the opener in Monday’s sport, with Roberts saying he anticipated the right-hander to go an inning or two.
The Dodgers plan to ramp up Ohtani’s workload from there.
“It’s good for our team,” Roberts mentioned. “Our guys are excited about this potential, and obviously, most importantly, I’m excited for Shohei.”
Ohtani had final pitched on Aug. 23, 2023, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
He underwent surgical procedure on his proper elbow that September, then signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers that December.
Ohtani has been rising his mound work in latest weeks, together with going through hitters for the primary time for the reason that surgical procedure throughout a reside bullpen session at Citi Area on Could 25.
He most just lately simulated three innings throughout a reside session.
“A week ago, we were talking about another live [session] and potentially getting to four innings and things like that,” Roberts mentioned. “But [with] the conversations and the confidence that he has, it’s time to go.”
Pitchers getting back from surgical procedure sometimes seem in a minimum of 5 minor-league video games, however as a result of Ohtani can also be Los Angeles’ designated hitter, the Dodgers needed to get inventive along with his rehab.
They decided that permitting the hard-throwing Ohtani to construct up his pitch rely in MLB video games, fairly than taxing him with prolonged reside classes, was one of the best plan of action.
Ohtani boasts a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481.2 innings in his MLB profession.
The surgical procedure was Ohtani’s second important elbow operation since 2018.
Ohtani, 30, additionally wanted surgical procedure on his left, non-throwing shoulder final offseason for an damage he suffered in opposition to the Yankees throughout the World Collection, which additional sophisticated his return to the mound.
He now joins an embattled Dodgers rotation that’s lacking Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki, amongst others, as a result of accidents.
Ohtani will proceed to hit on the times he pitches, Roberts mentioned. Ohtani, the reigning Nationwide League MVP, entered Monday batting .297 with an NL-leading 25 house runs.
Initially Printed: June 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM EDT
