Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound on Sunday for his second-ever start as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It was a strong effort in another abbreviated outing for the two-way star, who’s working his way back to a normal pitching load after undergoing UCL surgery in 2023.
Advertisement
Ohtani made his pitching debut for the Dodgers last Monday in a one-inning start that resulted in two hits and one earned run in a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres. He improved on Sunday against the Washington Nationals.
Sunday’s outing was also limited to single inning. But Ohtani didn’t allow a hit while recording his first two strikeouts in a Dodgers uniform.
The inning got off to an efficient start for Ohtani, who induced a first-pitch groundout from leadoff hitter CJ Abrams. Projected All-Star James Wood made Ohtani work as the second batter of the day and reached first on an error by outfielder Mookie Betts on a 2-2 count. Wood was the only batter to reach base off of Ohtani.
Ohtani worked No. 3 hitter Luis Garcia Jr. to a 2-2 count. He then induced a swinging strike three on a sweeper that sunk low and inside. Garcia attempted to check his swing, but failed and was called out.
Ohtani then faced cleanup hitter Nathaniel Lowe. He threw a splitter in the dirt that got away from catcher Dalton Rushing that allowed Wood to advance to second. But Wood would get no farther.
Advertisement
On the seventh pitch of the at-bat with a 2-2 count, Ohtani threw an 88 mph cutter that swept across the plate low and outside. Lowe swung and missed and went back to the dugout with an inning-ending strikeout, Ohtani’s second of the day.
It turned out to be Ohtani’s final pitch, as manager Dave Roberts replaced Ohtani on the mound with Ben Casparius for the second inning.
Ohtani threw 18 pitches including 12 strikes with two swinging strikeouts and no walks, hits or runs allowed. His fastball topped out at 99 mph as he threw an arsenal of pitches that also featured his cutter, sweeper and splitter.
Advertisement
It was an encouraging outing for the three-time All-Star pitcher who hasn’t handled a full load on the mound since Aug. 23, 2023, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Since that start for the Angels, Ohtani underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow for the second time. He previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018.
Ohtani joined the Dodgers as a free agent the following offseason and had an MVP outing at the plate during a World Series championship campaign for the Dodgers last year. He returned to the mound last week after a layoff from pitching of almost two years.
The Dodgers have eased Ohtani back with bullpen and batting-practice sessions. They’re now limiting his time on the mound as a starter with the hope of increasing his workload as the season progresses as they seek a second consecutive World Series title.
Through two outings, the pitching comeback for Ohtani appears to be going to plan.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
2025-26 College Football Playoff Preview: Indiana Hoosiers
Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season. As we gear up for the second 12-team College Football Playoff, we’ll provide an in-depth breakdown of each contender, recapping their journey to this point and highlighting what makes them tick. From their biggest strengths and glaring weaknesses to the path they’ll need to navigate to claim a national championship, we’ll give you everything you need to know to get ready for the most exciting time of the college football season. Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (2nd season) Record: 13-0 (Won Big Ten Championship) Overall Grade: 96.8 (1st) Offensive Grade: 94.9 (1st) Defensive Grade: 94.7 (2nd) EPA per play (Offense): 0.279 (3rd) EPA per play […]
Futebol na TV hoje: confira as atrações das telas nesta terça-feira (16)
Futebol na TV hoje segue com atrações nesta terça (16) (Foto: ddp media GmbH/Alamy Live News)A terça-feira (16) será mais um dia de bola na rede nas telas de canais e streamings do Brasil. O futebol na TV hoje tem um cardápio mais enxuto em relação aos outros dias, concentrado na parte da tarde, mas ainda assim com duelos interessantes. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEOs principais jogos acontecerão na Europa, pelas copas nacionais. Na Copa do Rei, o Barcelona entra em campo às 17h (horário de Brasília), enquanto na Copa da Liga Inglesa, o Chelsea atua no mesmo horário. As partidas de ambos os clubes serão exibidas no Disney+, e o jogo do time londrino irá ao ar também no canal linear ESPN.Confira a lista de partidas de futebol na TV hoje:COPA DO REI PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE15h Deportivo La Coruña x Mallorca – Disney+15h […]
Archer vs Smith (one-sided so far) subplot in now-or-never Test for England
"We'll leave it out there."Steve Smith was coy when asked straight after Australia's victory over England in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane exactly what he had said to Jofra Archer during their late duel. But the stump microphone sure picked it up: "Bowl fast when there's nothing going on, champion," was what Smith uttered. The dig at the England quick came in a speedy over in which Smith pulled Archer for one four, top-edged him for another and hooked a six over fine leg, helping Australia ease towards a target of just 65 in precisely 10 overs and open up a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Archer's over to Smith in second innings at The Gabba Over 8.1 - Smith pulls a short delivery for four leg-side Over 8.2 - Smith misses with an attempted uppercut over third […]
Portugal to return to F1 calendar in 2027 and 2028
Portugal will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027 and 2028, it has been confirmed. Portimão was previously on the F1 calendar during the 2020 and 2021 seasons amid reshuffles for Covid impacted years. The Portuguese GP will effectively replace the Dutch GP at Zandvoort, which has already been confirmed as dropping off the F1 calendar after 2026. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Watch Sky Sports F1's funniest moments of 2025! The 4.6km Portimão circuit is said to offer drivers a technical challenge with dramatic elevation changes, culminating in a plunge down to the final right-hander leading back to the pit straight.Portugal also has a prestigious history in Formula 1, hosting its first Grand Prix in Porto in 1958, as well as holding race weekends in Monsanto and Estoril across the sport's 75 years. More […]
The Whistle Blower: The unintended consequences of cracking down on time wasting
Time wasting is a hot topic in football right now.Some of the rules have been tweaked this season to try to crack down on it - most obviously, the newly enforced eight-second rule for goalkeepers and the mandatory 30-second wait on the touchline for any player with a head injury, or who has received any kind of treatment on the pitch. Expect more changes to come, with the time taken for throw-ins and goal kicks now under FIFA scrutiny and controversial injuries to goalkeepers too. An unfortunate side-effect of these positive new rules seems to be where a player forced to leave the pitch because of blood on their skin or kit is forced to wait on the touchline, before being waved back on. The Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka was frustrated by this situation in the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle […]
Tributes to be paid to Bondi shooting victims during third Ashes Test
Australia and England players will wear black armbands during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide following Sunday's shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach.Fifteen people were killed and many others injured after gunmen opened fire at a Hannukah celebration to mark the start of the Jewish holiday.Flags will fly at half-mast during the game at the Adelaide Oval from Wednesday, while Australian folk singer John Williamson will perform his 1982 hit True Blue on the opening morning after a minute's silence is observed.Australia captain Pat Cummins, whose family live in Bronte, a neighbouring suburb to Bondi, said the attacks "hit home pretty hard", while England skipper Ben Stokes described the events as "awful".Cummins told reporters on Tuesday: "Like most other Aussies and people in the world, I was just horrified watching on."We had just put the kids to bed and flicked on […]
Related
2025-26 College Football Playoff Preview: Indiana Hoosiers
Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season. As we gear up for the second 12-team College Football Playoff, we’ll provide an in-depth breakdown of each contender, recapping their journey to this point and highlighting what makes them tick. From their biggest strengths and glaring weaknesses to the path they’ll need to navigate to claim a national championship, we’ll give you everything you need to know to get ready for the most exciting time of the college football season. Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (2nd season) Record: 13-0 (Won Big Ten Championship) Overall Grade: 96.8 (1st) Offensive Grade: 94.9 (1st) Defensive Grade: 94.7 (2nd) EPA per play (Offense): 0.279 (3rd) EPA per play […]
Futebol na TV hoje: confira as atrações das telas nesta terça-feira (16)
Futebol na TV hoje segue com atrações nesta terça (16) (Foto: ddp media GmbH/Alamy Live News)A terça-feira (16) será mais um dia de bola na rede nas telas de canais e streamings do Brasil. O futebol na TV hoje tem um cardápio mais enxuto em relação aos outros dias, concentrado na parte da tarde, mas ainda assim com duelos interessantes. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEOs principais jogos acontecerão na Europa, pelas copas nacionais. Na Copa do Rei, o Barcelona entra em campo às 17h (horário de Brasília), enquanto na Copa da Liga Inglesa, o Chelsea atua no mesmo horário. As partidas de ambos os clubes serão exibidas no Disney+, e o jogo do time londrino irá ao ar também no canal linear ESPN.Confira a lista de partidas de futebol na TV hoje:COPA DO REI PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE15h Deportivo La Coruña x Mallorca – Disney+15h […]
Archer vs Smith (one-sided so far) subplot in now-or-never Test for England
"We'll leave it out there."Steve Smith was coy when asked straight after Australia's victory over England in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane exactly what he had said to Jofra Archer during their late duel. But the stump microphone sure picked it up: "Bowl fast when there's nothing going on, champion," was what Smith uttered. The dig at the England quick came in a speedy over in which Smith pulled Archer for one four, top-edged him for another and hooked a six over fine leg, helping Australia ease towards a target of just 65 in precisely 10 overs and open up a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Archer's over to Smith in second innings at The Gabba Over 8.1 - Smith pulls a short delivery for four leg-side Over 8.2 - Smith misses with an attempted uppercut over third […]
Portugal to return to F1 calendar in 2027 and 2028
Portugal will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027 and 2028, it has been confirmed. Portimão was previously on the F1 calendar during the 2020 and 2021 seasons amid reshuffles for Covid impacted years. The Portuguese GP will effectively replace the Dutch GP at Zandvoort, which has already been confirmed as dropping off the F1 calendar after 2026. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Watch Sky Sports F1's funniest moments of 2025! The 4.6km Portimão circuit is said to offer drivers a technical challenge with dramatic elevation changes, culminating in a plunge down to the final right-hander leading back to the pit straight.Portugal also has a prestigious history in Formula 1, hosting its first Grand Prix in Porto in 1958, as well as holding race weekends in Monsanto and Estoril across the sport's 75 years. More […]
The Whistle Blower: The unintended consequences of cracking down on time wasting
Time wasting is a hot topic in football right now.Some of the rules have been tweaked this season to try to crack down on it - most obviously, the newly enforced eight-second rule for goalkeepers and the mandatory 30-second wait on the touchline for any player with a head injury, or who has received any kind of treatment on the pitch. Expect more changes to come, with the time taken for throw-ins and goal kicks now under FIFA scrutiny and controversial injuries to goalkeepers too. An unfortunate side-effect of these positive new rules seems to be where a player forced to leave the pitch because of blood on their skin or kit is forced to wait on the touchline, before being waved back on. The Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka was frustrated by this situation in the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle […]
Tributes to be paid to Bondi shooting victims during third Ashes Test
Australia and England players will wear black armbands during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide following Sunday's shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach.Fifteen people were killed and many others injured after gunmen opened fire at a Hannukah celebration to mark the start of the Jewish holiday.Flags will fly at half-mast during the game at the Adelaide Oval from Wednesday, while Australian folk singer John Williamson will perform his 1982 hit True Blue on the opening morning after a minute's silence is observed.Australia captain Pat Cummins, whose family live in Bronte, a neighbouring suburb to Bondi, said the attacks "hit home pretty hard", while England skipper Ben Stokes described the events as "awful".Cummins told reporters on Tuesday: "Like most other Aussies and people in the world, I was just horrified watching on."We had just put the kids to bed and flicked on […]
Be the first to leave a comment