Finally, after 663 days, Shohei Ohtani will reclaim the other side of his two-way talent. The reigning NL MVP has been limited to being a hitter for two years since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023. He has truly excelled at the plate as he leads the NL with 25 home runs so far this season. And now, he’s set to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres.

Ohtani’s return to pitching has come sooner than expected. Dave Roberts planned to schedule his return after the All-Star break in 2025. However, Ohtani displayed early signs of readiness during his live bullpen sessions.

Now, let’s rewind a bit to see what exactly caused his injury, shall we? Back in the 2024 World Series, it was game 2 when his momentum came to a sudden halt. Apparently, it was later revealed that he hurt his left shoulder as he was trying to steal second base.

Naturally, he was in rehab during the 2024 MVP season. The Dodgers, who had watched their pitching staff grow thin due to injury setbacks, were extremely cautious of Ohtani’s return. Prior to June 15, Roberts confirmed that Ohtani might pitch one more simulated game during this week. Then, right after the game, Roberts made a media appearance and announced that Ohtani will be going against the San Diego Padres as a pitcher.

The Dodgers relieved to have Ohtani back on the mound

It was long-awaited. The Dodgers have been brutally hit with injuries throughout this season. They had 14 pitchers on the injured list. Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin, and the list goes on. So, manager Dave Roberts addressed Ohtani’s pitching comeback as “additive.” Indeed, it is a bonus for their rotation.

General Manager Brandon Gomes has pointed out Shotime’s rehab performance as a boost. And we can see his pitching against the Padres as a rehab assignment. Because his valuable bat cannot be sent down to the minors. “There is no playbook for this, so it has to be an ongoing conversation,” added Gomes.

The clubhouse went raving over the news. His teammate and veteran Clayton Kershaw couldn’t contain his excitement. “I think we all are hyped for Ohtani’s debut.” He then went on expressing how amazing it is to “see him say in and say out get ready to pitch.” 

Ohtani will be pitching for a short outing against the Padres. It’s been a long time, nearly 22 months, since he last pitched. Till june 2022, he was seen playing both as a pitcher and a hitter. But it’s been a while now. Even though he performed well during bullpen sessions, it makes all the sense that the Dodgers are being cautious.

Since undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023, he’s been limited to being a designated hitter. After all, he went through two major injuries in a span of one year.

Now, just this week, Ohtani revealed how the two-way greatness is a “norm” for him. He wouldn’t have it the other way around. It’s definitely exciting to watch him take over the mound after all this while.