Shohei Ohtani touches 100 mph in electric 2025 pitching debut for Dodgers
Image Source: Getty
Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar, returned to the mound in a thrilling performance on June 16, 2025, against the San Diego Padres. After nearly two years sidelined by elbow surgery, his electric pitching debut, reaching 100.2 mph, captivated fans.
This article explores his triumphant return.
Shohei Ohtani's blazing return to pitching
Ohtani made his long-awaited pitching debut for the Dodgers at a sold-out Dodger Stadium and threw a 100.2 mph fastball. The 3 time MVP hadn't pitched since August 2023 due to a second elbow surgery and allowed 1 run on 2 hits in 1 inning. He was a bit wild, but his velocity was ridiculous with 14 pitches at 98 mph or higher.
— Dodgers (@Dodgers)
Fans went wild as he took the mound to Michael Bublé's 'Feeling Good' for his first Dodgers pitching appearance.
Ohtani said he was nervous, but the game intensity made him throw harder than his target of 95-96 mph. He allowed singles to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez and a sacrifice fly, but induced ground balls to get out of further trouble. His 28-pitch inning showed flashes of ace stuff and got the Dodgers fans excited.
Also Read:
"It's going to be really fun": Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw can't wait to see Shohei Ohtani pitch tonight against Padres
A historic two-way performance
Ohtani's return wasn't just about pitching; he also shone at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
After his inning on the mound, he immediately batted leadoff, striking out against Padres starter Dylan Cease but later hitting a game-tying double in the third. This marked the 12th time he's started as a pitcher and batted leadoff, a rare feat not seen since 1901 by any other player more than once.
Ohtani's 79 career home runs with the Dodgers surpassed Don Drysdale's franchise record for a pitcher. His two-way ability, a hallmark of his 'unicorn' status, amazed teammates like Max Muncy, who noted the challenge of pitching and hitting in the same game. Ohtani plans to pitch weekly, aiming to increase his innings to ease the bullpen's load. With the Dodgers' rotation plagued by injuries, his return as a two-way player offers hope for a strong 2025 season.
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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Shohei Ohtani ties Padres game with double, bails out his own pitching debut
Image Source: Getty Shohei Ohtani came back to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit well, leading them to a 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres. He gave up a run early but tied the game with a double and got another hit to score a run. Fans were super excited to see him play. Shohei Ohtani ties game with double in pitching debut Ohtani pitched for the first time since August 2023, throwing 28 pitches in the first inning with fastballs going 96.8 mph. The Padres managed to score the first goal as Manny Machado flew in a ball, which counted as one run, making Ohtani struggle. However, he had a big 2-bases situation during the third inning at the outs, tying the score to 1-1. The people shouted in his favour. Ohtani went 1-1 in the fourth inning, scoring a single run in a huge five-run set by the Dodgers. He stopped pitching after one inning, but his hits helped a lot. Anthony Banda and Ben Casparius pitched after him, and Casparius won the game. Ohtani made history as the third National League player since 1900 to pitch and bat first in a game. Also Read: MLB reveals first All-Star vote results with Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani dominating early fan support Los Angeles Dodgers rally in fourth to seal victory The Dodgers got lots of runs in the fourth inning against Padres pitcher Dylan Cease. Cease started great, striking out five batters early, but then gave up six runs. Max Muncy, Tommy Edman, Ohtani, and Mookie Betts all hit balls that scored runs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 40+ Say This Wrinkle Serum "Really Delivered' (Shocking Results) The Skincare Magazine Undo Things got tense when Cease hit Andy Pages with a pitch, and they looked at each other. Umpires and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stopped any trouble. The Padres tried to come back with a double from Xander Bogaerts and a home run by Machado, but it wasn't enough. Kirby Yates pitched the ninth inning perfectly to save the game. Ohtani's hits and the team's big inning showed how good the Dodgers are. He's back after elbow surgery, and fans can't wait to see more of him. Ohtani's pitching comeback and great hitting made this game awesome. He showed he can help the Dodgers in many ways after being out for a while. The win showed the Dodgers are a strong team with Ohtani leading them.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Shohei Ohtani touches 100 mph in electric 2025 pitching debut for Dodgers
Image Source: Getty Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar, returned to the mound in a thrilling performance on June 16, 2025, against the San Diego Padres. After nearly two years sidelined by elbow surgery, his electric pitching debut, reaching 100.2 mph, captivated fans. This article explores his triumphant return. Shohei Ohtani's blazing return to pitching Ohtani made his long-awaited pitching debut for the Dodgers at a sold-out Dodger Stadium and threw a 100.2 mph fastball. The 3 time MVP hadn't pitched since August 2023 due to a second elbow surgery and allowed 1 run on 2 hits in 1 inning. He was a bit wild, but his velocity was ridiculous with 14 pitches at 98 mph or higher. — Dodgers (@Dodgers) Fans went wild as he took the mound to Michael Bublé's 'Feeling Good' for his first Dodgers pitching appearance. Ohtani said he was nervous, but the game intensity made him throw harder than his target of 95-96 mph. He allowed singles to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez and a sacrifice fly, but induced ground balls to get out of further trouble. His 28-pitch inning showed flashes of ace stuff and got the Dodgers fans excited. Also Read: "It's going to be really fun": Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw can't wait to see Shohei Ohtani pitch tonight against Padres A historic two-way performance Ohtani's return wasn't just about pitching; he also shone at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. After his inning on the mound, he immediately batted leadoff, striking out against Padres starter Dylan Cease but later hitting a game-tying double in the third. This marked the 12th time he's started as a pitcher and batted leadoff, a rare feat not seen since 1901 by any other player more than once. Ohtani's 79 career home runs with the Dodgers surpassed Don Drysdale's franchise record for a pitcher. His two-way ability, a hallmark of his 'unicorn' status, amazed teammates like Max Muncy, who noted the challenge of pitching and hitting in the same game. Ohtani plans to pitch weekly, aiming to increase his innings to ease the bullpen's load. With the Dodgers' rotation plagued by injuries, his return as a two-way player offers hope for a strong 2025 season.
Time of India
6 hours ago
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Padres vs Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani pitches first time in two years as Dodgers beat Padres
Shohei Ohtani made a notable return to the mound and delivered at the plate as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the visiting San Diego Padres 6-3 on Monday to open a four-game series. Pitching for the first time in nearly two years following a second Tommy John surgery in 2023, Ohtani worked one inning, allowing one run on two hits while throwing 28 pitches and hitting 100.2 mph on the radar gun. He also starred offensively, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the third and a run-scoring single in the fourth. — MLB (@MLB) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Max Muncy drove in two with a clutch single, and Will Smith added two hits as the Dodgers earned their sixth win in eight games - including three against the Padres during that span. San Diego's Manny Machado homered and collected two RBIs, while Fernando Tatis Jr. recorded a pair of hits. Padres starter Dylan Cease opened the game with five straight strikeouts but was tagged for six runs on eight hits over five innings. He fanned nine and walked one in the loss. Live Events — MLB (@MLB) The Padres struck early, with singles from Tatis and Luis Arraez setting up a Machado sacrifice fly in the first. The Dodgers responded in the third, tying the game with an Andy Pages double followed by Ohtani's two-out RBI double. — MLB (@MLB) The Dodgers broke the game open in the fourth with five runs off Cease. Muncy's two-run single gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead, followed by RBI singles from Tommy Edman, Ohtani, and Mookie Betts. Machado trimmed the deficit with his 11th homer of the season off Dodgers reliever Ben Casparius, who allowed two runs across 3 2/3 innings to improve to 5-1. Kirby Yates sealed the win with a clean ninth inning for his second save.
