After 664 days, Shohei Ohtani is set to return to the mound — a first in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform. On Monday night at Dodger Stadium, the two-way sensation will take the ball against the San Diego Padres, marking his first pitching appearance since August 23, 2023—when he was still a member of the Los Angeles Angels. A lot has changed since then: he’s undergone multiple surgeries, signed a record-shattering contract with the Dodgers, won a World Series title, and celebrated the birth of his first child.
Now, as he steps back into the role that once made him one of baseball’s rarest talents, the Dodgers plan to ease him into pitching duties with caution—and purpose.
Not a Standard Return, but a Significant One For Shohei Ohtani
The Dodgers have confirmed that Ohtani will return to the mound Monday night against the San Diego Padres. But don’t expect a full-fledged start—according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, he’s slated to throw just one or two innings in what essentially serves as an extension of his rehab, rather than a traditional appearance.
Ohtani’s most recent bullpen session simulated two innings with 50 pitches spaced over 25-minute intervals—mirroring the rhythm of a real game. That deliberate pace underscores the Dodgers’ plan to build his endurance gradually. The end goal? To have Ohtani fully stretched out and postseason-ready, capable of joining a high-priced rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow.
“This wasn’t part of some long-term timeline,” Jeff Passan explained on SportsCenter. “This was Ohtani saying, ‘I’m ready. I feel good. I can get big-league hitters out right now.’”
The Two-Way Loophole
Because Ohtani is officially recognized by MLB as a two-way player, the Dodgers can roster him without counting him toward their 13-pitcher limit. It’s a subtle but powerful advantage. Manager Dave Roberts effectively gains an extra arm on the roster—allowing him to treat Ohtani’s reintroduction with creative flexibility.
This unconventional usage also reflects how rare Ohtani’s skill set is. His bat alone makes him one of the most valuable players in baseball. But the ability to also dominate on the mound elevates him to generational status. Losing that part of his game permanently would be a major loss—not just for the Dodgers, but for the sport itself.
A Need Born of Circumstance
While Ohtani’s return is being carefully managed, it comes at a time when the Dodgers desperately need depth. Their rotation has been decimated: Snell and Glasnow are both on the 60-day injured list, and Rōki Sasaki is sidelined on the 15-day IL. Even as a short-inning weapon, Ohtani can alleviate pressure on a taxed pitching staff.
His track record as a pitcher is no small footnote. Over 86 MLB games and 481 2/3 innings, Ohtani has compiled a 3.01 ERA with a 142 ERA+ and an impressive 3.51 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2022 and has racked up an estimated 15 Wins Above Replacement from the mound, per Baseball Reference.
Los Angeles Dodgers Building Toward October
The Dodgers’ ultimate aim is clear: return to October with a fully operational Ohtani as both a bat and a rotation weapon. If that plan comes together, the defending champions could be poised to make history as the first team in over two decades to repeat as World Series winners.
Monday may only offer a glimpse of what’s to come—but even one inning from Shohei Ohtani marks the beginning of something that could reshape the rest of the Dodgers’ season.