Shohei Ohtani to make his long-awaited return to the mound in an abbreviated start for the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani prepares on base during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
LOS ANGELES—Shohei Ohtani is making his Los Angeles Dodgers pitching debut, 643 days after the two-way superstar had elbow surgery.
Ohtani will start and pitch an inning or two against the San Diego Padres on Monday night in the series opener.
"He's ready to make his debut on the mound,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday night after the NL West leaders beat San Francisco.
The Japanese right-hander has been throwing simulated games recently in preparation for his return while still wielding his powerful bat in the lineup. Typically, pitchers returning from injuries go on minor-league rehab assignments, but Ohtani is an exception.
The three-time MVP is batting .290 with 25 homers, which leads the National League, 41 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in the leadoff spot.
While Ohtani won't be throwing deep into the game, just his presence on the mound figures to bolster a staff that has been decimated by injuries. The Dodgers have eight starters, including Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, and six relievers on the injured list.
Since Ohtani is already on the roster as the designated hitter, the Dodgers are essentially adding an extra pitcher without having to make a corresponding roster move.
Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title — and his first — last season, the first of a $700 million, 10-year contract.
He hasn't pitched since 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. He had a record of 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts. His last mound appearance was on Aug. 23, 2023, when he got hurt during a start against Cincinnati. He had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, and is recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023.
'There's been a lot of anticipation,' Roberts said. 'It's good for our team. Our guys are excited about this potential. And obviously, most important, I'm excited for Shohei.'
As a pitcher, Ohtani has a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings in his major league career.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
an hour ago
- Japan Today
Ohtani makes his long-awaited return to mound after elbow surgery
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles on Monday. baseball By BETH HARRIS Shohei Ohtani gave up a pair of two-strike hits and a run in his Los Angeles Dodgers pitching debut against the San Diego Padres on Monday night, 21 months after the two-way superstar had elbow surgery. Ohtani threw 28 pitches — 16 for strikes — in the first inning as fans hung on every one of them. They oohed when a fastball was clocked at 100.2 mph — the second-hardest pitch thrown by a Dodgers hurler this season. Ohtani appeared to be laboring on the mound, his face sweaty. He warmed up to his usual music, Michael Bublé's version of 'Feeling Good.' After retiring Xander Bogaerts on a grounder for the third out, Ohtani walked over to an umpire who checked his hands and glove. He didn't enter the dugout. Instead, he put on his batting gloves and other equipment near the railing and walked to the on-deck circle to prepare to lead off the bottom of the inning. Ohtani struck out swinging against Padres starter Dylan Cease, but then tied the score at 1 with a run-scoring double to left-center in the third. The three-time MVP added a two-out RBI single that gave the Dodgers a 5-2 lead in the fourth on the way to a 6-3 victory. He finished 2 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts at the plate. 'He's ready, he's adamant, he feels good, strong, ready to pitch a major league game,' Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said before the game. 'I think everyone in that clubhouse, I think the fans, media, we've been waiting for this moment.' Ohtani faced Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arráez, Manny Machado, Gavin Sheets and Bogaerts in the first. Tatis flared a single to center field and went to second on Ohtani's wild pitch. Arráez singled and Machado's sacrifice fly scored Tatis. Sheets and Bogaerts grounded out. That was it for Ohtani on the mound. Anthony Banda replaced him in the second. 'I think I got the best seat in the house to watch it and to watch this guy start and then take an at-bat,' Roberts said. 'This is bananas. I'm thrilled.' Major League Baseball made the game available for free on streaming site The Japanese right-hander was pitching in a big league game about three weeks after facing hitters in simulated at-bats for the first time. All the while, Ohtani was still wielding his powerful bat in the lineup for the NL West leaders. 'It got to the point where, hey, it feels like we should take that next step and almost look to finish the rehab at the major league level because of the taxing nature of what he was doing,' Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. Typically, pitchers returning from injuries go on minor league rehab assignments, but Ohtani is an exception. 'It's been really encouraging overall the way he's bounced back and been able to continue to feel good doing both,' Gomes said. Roberts said: "You've got to hear the player and trust the player.' Roberts briefly considered not having Ohtani bat leadoff, but the slugger assured his manager he was fine with it. 'It could change going forward,' Roberts said, 'but right now he feels very comfortable with taking the mound and coming in the dugout and getting on his stuff to go take an at-bat.' Gomes acknowledged the team is in a unique situation, trying to balance Ohtani's offensive prowess with his pitching ability while erring on the side of caution. 'We don't know how he's going to come out, if his legs are going to be tired. We have to make sure that we're also keeping one of our best hitters in the lineup,' Gomes said. 'It has to be an ongoing conversation and making sure that Shohei is the one driving this conversation.' The three-time MVP began the night batting .290 with 25 homers, which led the National League, 41 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in the leadoff spot. While Ohtani won't be throwing deep into games at first, just his presence on the mound figures to bolster a staff that has been decimated by injuries. The Dodgers have eight starters, including Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, and six relievers on the injured list. Roberts said he and the coaches would watch Ohtani's command, delivery, and ability to repeat his mechanics. 'Like he always does, he's going to give everything he has and we expect a high-quality outing,' Gomes said. Ohtani is already on the roster as the designated hitter, so the Dodgers are essentially adding an extra pitcher without having to make a corresponding roster move. 'It's not going to be a once-every-five-day situation, so there's going to be plenty of time to recover,' Roberts said. 'We also have the luxury of pitching him as much as we want as far as in a particular outing.' Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title — and his first — last season, the first of a $700 million, 10-year contract. He earned his third MVP award and first in the National League. He hadn't pitched since 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels. He was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 23 starts that season. His last mound appearance was on Aug. 23, 2023, when he got hurt during an outing against Cincinnati. Ohtani had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, and is recovering from a second major operation on his right elbow Sept. 19, 2023. As a pitcher, he entered 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings during his major league career. 'The main goal is obviously to have him strong down the stretch run and through October,' Gomes said. Ohtani's pitching debut came on the same day his former interpreter reported to federal prison in Pennsylvania. Ippei Mizuhara received a nearly five-year sentence for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Asahi Shimbun
an hour ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Baseball star Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter reports to federal prison in Pennsylvania
Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball star Shohei Ohtani expected to be sentenced for bank and tax fraud arrives at federal court on Feb. 6 in Santa Ana, Calif. (AP Photo) LOS ANGELES--The former Japanese interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani surrendered to a federal prison in Pennsylvania on Monday, beginning a nearly five-year prison sentence for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player. Ippei Mizuhara, 40, was processed at a low security federal prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, his attorney Michael Freedman confirmed. The facility is about 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. Mizuhara was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana in February to four years and nine months for bank and tax fraud. He was also ordered to pay $18 million in restitution, with nearly $17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the IRS. He was sentenced to three years' supervised release on top of the prison sentence. Authorities said Mizuhara began accessing Ohtani's account beginning in 2021 and changed its security protocols so he could impersonate Ohtani to authorize wire transfers. He has admitted to using the money to cover his growing gambling bets and debts with an illegal bookmaker, in addition to purchasing $325,000 worth of baseball cards and paying his own dental bills. He was a close friend and confidant to Ohtani, standing by his side for many of his career highlights, from serving as his catcher during the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game, to being there for his two American League MVP wins and his record-shattering $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Ex-Ohtani interpreter Mizuhara reports to US prison
LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) -- Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, is in U.S. federal prison, prison authorities said Monday, after being sentenced for stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball player. His incarceration in Pennsylvania comes after Mizuhara, 40, was sentenced to a prison term of four years and nine months and was ordered to surrender himself to authorities by Monday, according to his attorney. Mizuhara is being held in a low-security prison in Allenwood, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His defense has said he is likely to be deported to Japan after completing his sentence, as he is not an American citizen. According to court documents, Mizuhara misappropriated $16.59 million from one of Ohtani's bank accounts from November 2021 through March 2024 to pay a bookmaker to cover gambling debts. Mizuhara also stole around $380,000 to buy baseball cards to resell them and to pay for his dental work. Additionally, he submitted a false tax return for 2022, knowing the income he had received that year far exceeded the amount reported, the documents said. The incident stunned the baseball world and Ohtani's fans after it emerged through media reports in March last year. Mizuhara came to the United States in 2018 to work as Ohtani's interpreter when the two-way star began his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels. Mizuhara initially falsely told U.S. sports network ESPN that Ohtani had sent him the money to pay off his gambling debts. A federal district court in California sentenced Mizuhara in February after he pleaded guilty to the charges. He was initially ordered to report to prison in March, but was twice granted a deadline extension at his request.
