Shohei Ohtani is set to take the mound for the first time with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night against the San Diego Padres, a moment the team — and much of the baseball world — has eagerly anticipated since Los Angeles signed him to a historic contract.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the Giants that Ohtani is finally ready to pitch in a live game. “The live, simulated or whatever sort of ran its course,” Roberts said. “He’s ready to make his debut on the mound.”
The game will air free on MLB.TV at 7 p.m. PT, marking a significant milestone in Ohtani’s return to two-way play.
Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since August 23, 2023, shortly before undergoing a procedure to repair his right ulnar collateral ligament — his second major elbow surgery. His comeback trail accelerated recently: he faced live hitters for the first time this year on May 25, just 22 days before Monday’s scheduled outing.
Shohei Ohtani Also Pitched In 2023 At WBC
The last time Ohtani pitched in a truly high-stakes moment, it was on the international stage at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In a cinematic finish that felt lifted from a sports movie script, Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure Japan’s dramatic 3-2 win over the United States in the championship game. Coming out of the bullpen to record the final three outs, Ohtani capped off a brilliant tournament in which he was both the most dominant hitter and pitcher — slashing .435/.606/.739 at the plate and posting a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9⅔ innings.
That performance earned him WBC MVP honors and reminded the world what makes Ohtani singular: the ability to shape a game from both batter’s box and mound. Now, with his return to pitching imminent, the Dodgers — and all of baseball — will get another glimpse of the most extraordinary two-way talent the sport has ever seen.