Two-Way Star Set to Shine Monday Night
Los Angeles, CA – June 16, 2025, 02:49 PM +07 – Baseball fans, get ready! Shohei Ohtani makes his long-awaited pitching comeback Monday night against the San Diego Padres, the LA Dodgers announced Sunday.
Twenty-one months after his second ulnar collateral ligament surgery, Ohtani, 30, will pitch one or two innings, extending his rehab. Just a week ago, his return wasn’t expected until after the All-Star break or even August. But a stellar 44-pitch, three-inning simulated outing at Petco Park—featuring six strikeouts against minor leaguers—accelerated the timeline. Sources say his dual role as pitcher and designated hitter proved easier on his body, aided by roster flexibility.
“He’s ready to pitch in a major league game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed post their 5-4 win over the Giants. “He let us know that.” With 14 pitchers on the injured list—including stars like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow—Ohtani’s return is a lifeline for the shorthanded Dodgers.
Ohtani’s 2018 rookie season with the Angels saw a 3.10 ERA in nine starts before a UCL sprain led to Tommy John surgery. He bounced back as a two-way star, earning unanimous MVPs in 2021 and 2023, slashing .277/.379/.585 with 124 home runs and 57 stolen bases, and posting a 2.84 ERA with 542 strikeouts in 428 innings. A second UCL tear in 2021 sidelined him, but in 2024, he hit the 50/50 club, won MVP as a designated hitter, and secured a World Series title. Injuries, including a labrum tear during the World Series, delayed his pitching return, but recent sessions—22 pitches on May 25, 29 on May 31, and 15 more later—proved his readiness.