After nearly two years on the mend, Shohei Ohtani will return to his two-way best on Monday night.
The Dodgers star has taken his batting talent to new heights since landing on the IL with a torn UCL in the final few months of the 2023 season. Since Ohtani was struck down in a late-summer matchup between his then-club Angels and Reds, he has launched more balls over the fence than most. He’s been rewarded handsomely for his efforts, too, inking a record 10-year, $700 million before capturing NL MVP honors and a World Series title in 2024.
Without pitching, Ohtani is unstoppable. With it, he’s nigh on infallible, a captivating blend of speed, power, finesse, and elegance. Monday night, then, represents a homecoming of sorts for Ohtani, who will be tasked with leading Los Angeles’ pitching staff when it takes on the Padres.
Ohtani is only expected to play as an opener and likely won’t see more than two innings of action. Yet, masses of baseball fans are expected to pool in the Dodgers’ home ground and embrace MLB’s most gifted talent.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
It’s easy to see why.
The Sporting News is keeping tabs on Ohtani’s pitching and hitting performance against San Diego on Monday night. Follow below for highlights and live analysis as Ohtani trots onto the hill for the first time since August 2023.
Shohei Ohtani stats today
This section will be updated after the game begins
Pitching
- Innings: 1.0
- Earned runs: 1
- Strikeouts: 0
- Hits allowed: 2
- Walks: 0
- Pitches: 28
Batting
- At-bats:
- Hits:
- Home runs:
- RBIs:
- Stolen bases:
- Walks:
- Runs:
Shohei Ohtani highlights from Dodgers pitching debut vs. Padres
Ohtani made history before he even appeared in the matchup. Alvin Dark and Jim Jones have company as players to start a game as a pitcher while batting leadoff in the same game.
Shohei Ohtani will be the first National League player to start a game as a pitcher and also bat in the leadoff spot since 1953 (Alvin Dark, Giants) and third overall since 1900 (Jim Jones, Giants). pic.twitter.com/zj5eXsZdB3
— MLB (@MLB) June 16, 2025
He strode to the mound confidently, delivering a series of arrows to Will Smith before setting sights at his first target, fellow supernova Fernando Tatis Jr.
Ohtani’s stuff was fiery; he dialed up 98 mph on a pair of early fastballs and even touched 100 while throwing to Luis Arraez.
But his precision was lacking. He got caught in a trio of 3-2 counts, the first of two resulted in hits.
Ohtani looked to have recorded his first strikeout on Manny Machado, coaxing the Padres star into going around on a checked swing with two strikes.
But the umpiring crew was unconvinced. Machado was deemed to have held up. And a few bolts later, he drove in Tatis with a sacrifice fly.
How to watch Dodgers vs. Padres
- Start time: 10:10 p.m. ET (7:10 p.m. local time)
- TV channel: MLB Network
- Live stream: Fubo
The match between Dodgers and Padres will air on MLB Network nationally. First pitch will take place at 10:10 p.m. ET from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. An alternate broadcast can be found on Fubo, the former of which runs a free trial.
Last time Shohei Ohtani pitched
Ohtani’s last pitching appearance came on Aug. 2, 2023, as a member of the Angels. The then-29-year-old threw 1.2 innings against the Reds before exiting with elbow discomfort. He was soon diagnosed with a torn UCL and ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 season, as well as all of 2024.
Does Ohtani hit when he pitches?
For those who haven’t witnessed Ohtani’s two-way excellence firsthand, he does, in fact, hit in the same games he pitches in. The Japanese supernova has enjoyed some of his best performances while doing both, like on June 15, 2023, when Ohtani clubbed a go-ahead homer and pitched six innings of two-run ball to earn the win.
Because Ohtani is designated as a “two-way player,” a special MLB rule allows him to stay in the game as a designated hitter after he’s done pitching.
Shohei Ohtani pitching stat
Ohtani has accomplished plenty as a slugger and base-stealer, but he is arguably at his best when he’s throwing. The 31-year-old placed fourth in AL Cy Young voting in 2022 and has four sub-3.31 ERA campaigns under his belt.
Here’s a look at Ohtani’s pitching numbers since joining MLB in 2018:
| Season | Games | Record | ERA | Innings pitched | WHIP | Strikeouts | Walks | Hits | Earned runs |
| 2018 | 10 | 4-2 | 3.31 | 51.2 | 1.16 | 63 | 22 | 38 | 19 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0-1 | 37.80 | 1.2 | 6.60 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 7 |
| 2021 | 23 | 9-2 | 3.18 | 130.1 | 1.09 | 156 | 44 | 98 | 46 |
| 2022 | 28 | 15-9 | 2.33 | 166.0 | 1.01 | 219 | 44 | 124 | 43 |
| 2023 | 23 | 10-5 | 3.14 | 132.0 | 1.06 | 167 | 55 | 85 | 46 |
| Totals | 86 | 38-19 | 3.01 | 481.2 | 1.08 | 608 | 173 | 348 | 161 |
