{"id":56373,"date":"2025-06-16T08:09:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T08:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=56373"},"modified":"2025-06-16T08:09:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T08:09:22","slug":"dodgers-shohei-ohtani-to-return-to-mound-as-starting-pitcher-monday-vs-padres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=56373","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers&#8217; Shohei Ohtani to return to mound as starting pitcher Monday vs. Padres"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"article-subtitle\">Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the team announced that Shohei Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for Monday&#8217;s game against the San Diego Padres.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"article-meta\" data-component=\"articleMeta\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-media\">\n<div class=\"image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.nbcwashington.com\/2025\/06\/Ohtani-pitching.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;resize=320%2C180\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, (max-width: 1200px) calc(100vw - 350px), 850px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/2025\/06\/Ohtani-pitching.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;resize=320%2C180 320w, https:\/\/media.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/2025\/06\/Ohtani-pitching.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;resize=400%2C225 400w, https:\/\/media.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/2025\/06\/Ohtani-pitching.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;resize=500%2C281 500w, https:\/\/media.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/2025\/06\/Ohtani-pitching.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;resize=600%2C338 600w, https:\/\/media.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/2025\/06\/Ohtani-pitching.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;resize=850%2C478 850w, https:\/\/media.nbcsportsbayarea.com\/2025\/06\/Ohtani-pitching.jpg?quality=85&amp;strip=all&amp;resize=1200%2C675 1200w, \" alt=\"Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 pitcher Shohei Ohtani, center, throws live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior, second from left, watches prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Mark J. Terrill)\" \/><\/div><figcaption>\n<div class=\"caption\" data-react-component=\"NBCTruncate\" data-maxlines=\"2\" data-maxlinesmobile=\"4\" data-readmore=\"Read more\" data-text=\"&lt;p&gt;Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 pitcher Shohei Ohtani, center, throws live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior, second from left, watches prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Mark J. Terrill)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-ellipsis=\"false\" data-component-initialized=\"true\"><\/p>\n<p>Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 pitcher Shohei Ohtani, center, throws live batting practice as pitching coach Mark Prior, second from left, watches prior to a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/Mark J. Terrill)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"article-content rich-text\">\n<p>For the first time in nearly two years,\u00a0Shohei Ohtani\u00a0is back where he belongs\u2014on a major league mound.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Los Angeles Dodgers\u00a0announced Sunday night that their two-way superstar and reigning National League MVP\u00a0will start Monday night\u2019s series opener against the San Diego Padres\u00a0at Dodger Stadium.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-nbc-html-block html-block\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=nbcwashington&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1934438311449473336&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbclosangeles.com%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fshohei-ohtani-dodgers-padres-pitching%2F3724917%2F&amp;sessionId=80566f20c65f77c4d20c705af3260a3381d76e0a&amp;siteScreenName=nbcwashington&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1934438311449473336\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It will be the first time Ohtani has pitched in a big league game since August 23, 2023, when\u00a0he exited early against the Reds while still wearing the red and white of the Angels.<\/p>\n<p>Twenty-two months and\u00a0one elbow surgery later, Ohtani is finally ready to toe the rubber again\u2014this time in Dodger blue.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,&#8221; said Dodgers&#8217; manager Dave Roberts after\u00a0Sunday&#8217;s 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants.\u00a0&#8220;He&#8217;s ready. It&#8217;s time to go.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The plan is for Ohtani to serve as an opener, likely throwing one or two innings before giving way to right-hander Ben Casparius, who will handle the bulk of the workload. The strategy is as cautious as it is electric. For the Dodgers, it\u2019s less about stretching Ohtani out and more about finally letting the world witness something we\u2019ve all been waiting for.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recirc-module\">\n<div class=\"article-content rich-text\">\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going to open for us,&#8221; said Roberts of the plan for Ohtani. &#8220;The live simulated games have run its course and he\u2019s ready to make his debut on the mound. &#8220;It\u2019s great for the game. I\u2019m excited for Shohei\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ohtani told reporters through a translator after his two-homer performance on Saturday night that he was ready to get back on the mound in a big league game.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-nbc-html-block html-block\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=nbcwashington&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1934114978388422824&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbclosangeles.com%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fshohei-ohtani-dodgers-padres-pitching%2F3724917%2F&amp;sessionId=80566f20c65f77c4d20c705af3260a3381d76e0a&amp;siteScreenName=nbcwashington&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1934114978388422824\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A pitcher. A slugger.\u00a0A $700 million miracle.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not often a Monday night in June becomes appointment television\u2014but when the unicorn returns to the hill, the sport pays attention.<\/p>\n<p>Ohtani, 29, underwent surgery on his right elbow on September 19, 2023, after tearing his UCL for the second time in his career. He had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2018. Since signing a historic 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December, the Japanese sensation has focused solely on hitting\u2014until now.<\/p>\n<p>His ramp-up began quietly behind the scenes. He paused pitching activities after a mound session in February to focus on Opening Day as a hitter, then resumed bullpens on March 29. Just last Tuesday, in San Diego, he faced live hitters for the first time, throwing 44 pitches over three simulated innings.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t long before he let the team know he was ready for more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe said doing the three innings live is taxing on his body,&#8221; said Roberts about why the team changed course from their original plan of letting Ohtani ramp up to five or more innings in simulated games with his debut expected to come sometime after the All-Star break. &#8220;He\u2019s ready to pitch in a major league game, and he let us know that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While Ohtani hasn\u2019t pitched a single inning this season, he\u2019s still been the Dodgers\u2019 most valuable player\u2014and arguably the face of baseball.<\/p>\n<p>Through June 15, he leads the National League with a 1.035 OPS, while batting .297 with 25 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He\u2019s made the extraordinary look routine. Moonshot homers. Blistering line drives. Game-winning sprints around the bases. Every time he steps into the batter\u2019s box, there\u2019s a hum in the air.<\/p>\n<p>And now, that hum is heading to the mound.<\/p>\n<p>The timing of Ohtani\u2019s return couldn\u2019t be more crucial.<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers are scraping together bullpen games just to survive a\u00a0brutal wave of injuries. Roki Sasaki, the heralded 23-year-old rookie from Japan, hasn\u2019t pitched since May 9 due to a right shoulder impingement and is likely out long-term. Former Cy Young winner Blake Snell is battling shoulder inflammation. Tyler Glasnow, arguably L.A.\u2019s ace this season, just landed on the IL with the same diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>Sasaki\u2019s status, in particular, is murky. He began a throwing program earlier this month but felt discomfort again last week and has since been shut down.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s just not feeling strong,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to push him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With innings at a premium and the postseason picture beginning to sharpen, Ohtani\u2019s return\u2014however brief\u2014offers a glimmer of relief and a whole lot of hope.<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t just about one inning, or even two.<\/p>\n<p>This is about history in real time.<\/p>\n<p>Ohtani\u2019s presence on a big-league mound reminds us of what\u2019s possible when perseverance meets transcendent talent. It\u2019s a story that stretches from the Tokyo Dome to Chavez Ravine, one filled with setbacks, surgeries, speculation, and now\u2014redemption.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is very exciting,&#8221; added Roberts of Ohtani making his Dodgers debut on the mound. &#8220;I\u2019m a baseball fan first. The anticipation here for the game, man it\u2019s going to be bananas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Come Monday night, when the No. 17 jersey jogs out from the Dodgers dugout and takes that slow, deliberate walk to the mound, the roar won\u2019t just be for a pitch.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019ll be for the moment.<\/p>\n<p>A moment 659 days in the making.<\/p>\n<p>A moment worth every second of the wait.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the team announced that Shohei Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for Monday&#8217;s game against the San Diego Padres. 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