Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani makes 1st pitching appearance in nearly 2 years
Shohei Ohtani, the star pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made his pitching debut on Monday night against the San Diego Padres. After being sidelined for 21 months due to an elbow injury, Ohtani seemed a bit rusty on the mound. He allowed one run on two hits in the lone inning he pitched, throwing 28 pitches in total.
Despite the rough start, Ohtani’s fastball reached an impressive 100.2 mph. “I was aiming to sit 95-96,” Ohtani said through a translator after the game, “but the game intensity really allowed me to throw a little harder.” He also had a solid performance at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI, a walk, and two strikeouts.
Ohtani admitted to feeling nervous for his first live-game action in nearly two years. He expressed his desire to gradually increase his pitch count and pitch once a week to avoid overtaxing the bullpen. Third baseman Max Muncy praised Ohtani’s electric stuff but noted that his command may have been affected by the long layoff.
The Dodgers ultimately secured a 6-3 victory over the Padres, improving their record to 44-29 while the Padres fell to 39-32. Ohtani’s return to the mound is a significant milestone for the team, and fans are eager to see how he continues to progress throughout the season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. Stay updated on all the latest sports news by following Fox News Digital’s sports coverage and subscribing to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
