The Los Angeles Dodgers saw Shohei Ohtani win National League MVP last season without throwing a single pitch. However, the two-way version of Ohtani, to whom the Dodgers gave a $700 million contract, is finally ready to debut. The Dodgers announced that Ohtani would start against the San Diego Padres on Monday night.
Ohtani was supposed to throw a live batting practice this week, but plans have clearly changed. Roberts told the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett that Ohtani was “getting antsy” and urged the team to allow him to pitch a short outing in a real game.
Ohtani will not be making a traditional start. According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, he will serve as an opener and is expected to pitch one inning as part of his build-up to being a starter again.
“While he’s expected to pitch one inning Monday, he will continue to build up at a rate of about an inning per outing until he’s ready for full-fledged starts. For a Dodgers team that has 14 pitchers on the injured list, it’s a much-needed boost.”
Ohtani has not pitched in a big league game since 2023, the same year he underwent elbow surgery. He is having another terrific season at the plate, but getting him on the mound is what makes him so special. Ohtani has a 3.01 career ERA in Major League Baseball and finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award race in 2022. He was touching 97 mph in his recent simulated game, according to Ardaya.
“It’s very exciting,” Roberts said to The Athletic. “I think that for me, I’m still a baseball fan first. I really am. The anticipation here for the game is, man, it’s going to be bananas when it happens. There’s been a lot of anticipation. I think we’ve done it the right way as far as kind of our process. Communicating with Shohei and feeling good. So when it does happen, I think that it’s just, it’s great for the game. It’s good for our team. Our guys are excited about this potential. Most important, I’m excited for Shohei.”
Ohtani has been working hard to get back, and this is not a move the Dodgers are making out of desperation due to injuries. Ohtani feels he is ready to take this step in his rehab.
“I felt like the intensity was there and my stuff was game-ready,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, according to Ardaya.
