You know how it feels when the news of your favourite movie sequel breaks with a glimpse of a short teaser. That’s pretty much how things have been at Dodgerland for a while now, especially when it comes to Shohei Ohtani pitching.

At the plate, we’ve seen the box office hit: 22 home runs and counting. But the second half of the tale, the one where he’s striking out batters on the mound, is yet to come. And this left with only one question: When will he come back? After a victory against the Bronx Bombers, the guy himself answered!

It has been more than a year since Shohei Ohtani threw his pitch in the majors. Although there have been updates and practice clips, catching him live on the mound is missing. And it’s not only the fans, but the dugout, too. Yes, the Dodgers are winning games. However, the injuries to the pitching staff have become a concern. The team might not say it loud, but they need him on the mound, too.

Against the Yankees, the Dodgers had an 8-5 victory in a nail-biting game. Later, Shohei Ohtani was interviewed by Apple TV, where he surprised everyone with an exciting update. With his usual calmness, he shared, “Throwing another live BP tomorrow.”

The words hung in the air, teasing what was to come. But the real surprise came next: A playful jab when it was asked when he would be back on the mound for good. Ohtani said with a sneaky smile, “Ask Friedman, he’ll probably know.”

A lighthearted nod to Andrew Friedman, who is in charge of baseball operations for the Dodgers. This funny barb brought attention to how careful the Dodgers are being with Ohtani’s recovery. They surely won’t need another player in the IL, and that too, the two-way sensation.

Instead of sending Shohei Ohtani to Triple-A for a regular rehab assignment, the Dodgers kept him on the major league roster only. This allowed him to keep contributing to the offense while slowly increasing his pitching workload through simulated games and live batting practice sessions. Dave Roberts talked more about this plan. “Obviously the buildup is important. But so is him taking five at-bats in a game.” This shows how much the team cares about ensuring Ohtani can pitch again without losing his effectiveness at the plate.

It makes sense, though. He is someone who can change the game.

Ohtani’s double blast powers Dodgers

On May 30, 2025, Dodger Stadium was fully packed, and eyes were fixed on the two big league teams. On one side, there was Ohtani; on the other, it was Aaron Judge. And Ohtani’s homers took the game out of Judge’s hands. 

Ohtani showed off his offensive skills by hitting two home runs, raising his season total to an MLB-leading 22. His first came in the first inning, which was a 417-foot homer. Probably an answer to Aaron Judge’s 446-foot bomb? Well, baseball IS romantic like that…

Still, the Dodgers were down 5-2 after three innings, but Ohtani hit his second solo home run of the game in the sixth, which started a recovery. This hit was the first of five straight hits off Yankees starter Max Fried, who lost for the first time this season. Freddie Freeman hit a double that brought in a run, Andy Pages hit a single that knotted the game, and Michael Conforto walked with the bases loaded to give the Dodgers the lead.

Dave Roberts commended Ohtani’s competitive nature. “He would probably say it’s just like any other game, but I do think that when you see the reigning MVP on the other side, and going out there and performing, that brings out even more of a competitor in Shohei.”

Shohei Ohtani remarked through interpreter Will Ireton, “It’s always nice to come back from a losing situation and win the game.” His performance not only helped the Dodgers win, but it also solidified his place as a key player in important games.

And now that his bat is making headlines, can we expect his arm to make it there soon?