Shohei Ohtani to make long-awaited Dodgers pitching debut against Padres on Monday

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jun 16, 2025, 16:00 IST

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Shohei Ohtani is set to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 16, 2025, against the San Diego Padres, marking his return to the mound since 2023 after elbow surgery. Following a stellar 2024 season as a hitter, Ohtani's pitching comeback provides a crucial boost to the Dodgers, who are currently leading their division amidst numerous pitcher injuries.

Shohei Ohtani to make long-awaited Dodgers pitching debut against Padres on Monday

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Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' amazing two-way player, will pitch on Monday, June 16, 2025, against the San Diego Padres. Fans are super excited because Ohtani hasn’t pitched since joining the Dodgers in 2023. After a great 2024 season hitting, where he won his third MVP award, he’s now ready to throw again. This is his first time pitching since elbow surgery in 2023. With many Dodgers pitchers hurt, Ohtani’s return is a big help in the close NL West race.

Shohei Ohtani will pitch on Monday against San Diego Padres

The Dodgers said on Sunday that Shohei Ohtani will start pitching in a special game against the Padres, his first time on the mound since August 2023 with the Angels. Coach Dave Roberts said there was a good chance Ohtani would pitch in this series, and after practising with hitters, the team decided he’s ready. Last week, Ohtani threw 44 pitches in practice, striking out six players with fast pitches.

He’ll likely pitch for one or two innings because he’s not ready for a full game yet. Many Dodgers pitchers, like Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki, are injured, so Ohtani’s help is huge. Fans at Dodger Stadium can’t wait to cheer him on. Roberts said everyone’s excitement is “crazy” for this moment. The Dodgers are leading their division by two games, and Ohtani will help them stay on top.

Also Read: Dodgers beat Giants with big hits from Shohei Ohtani and strong pitching by Clayton Kershaw

Shohei Ohtani’s road back to pitching

Ohtani took his time to heal after elbow surgery in 2023 to make sure he was strong for his return. He didn’t pitch in 2024 but hit well and became the first player to hit 50 HR and 50 SB in a season. He started throwing with hitters in September 2025, and his throws look good. Dodgers boss Andrew Friedman said they didn’t want to rush Ohtani back so he could be healthy for the long haul. Ohtani feels good and says his arm is back to normal. He has a great career record 3.01 ERA, and 38 wins. His best year was 2022 when he won 15 games and finished 4th in the big award vote. Now the Dodgers are fighting for the division and Ohtani’s arm is a big help.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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