June 15, 2025 – Los Angeles — Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is finally set to take the mound again. He’ll make his MLB pitching return on Monday night against the San Diego Padres—643 days after undergoing elbow surgery.
Why This Moment Matters
- His first live simulated outing since February went well—44 pitches over three innings near Petco Park—with his fastball consistently touching mid-90s, showcasing excellent feel for his off-speed arsenal.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said they’re considering him as a piggyback starter—possibly featuring for one inning or two, reducing workload while helping manage the club’s depleted rotation.
Team Needs & Ohtani’s Impact
- Los Angeles has been ravaged by injuries, with 14 pitchers on the injured list, including Snell, Glasnow, and Sasaki—creating huge demand for even limited innings.
- Offensively, Ohtani is dominating: he leads the NL with 25 homers, batting .297 with a .642 slugging percentage and 41 RBIs.
Risks & Rewards
- Ohtani’s comeback was originally planned post–All-Star break, but the staff accelerated it—fearing overloading him too early may jeopardize his long-term future.
- If successful, this comeback could outperform with immediate rotation help; but any setback might carry heavy cost given his $700 million contract and injury history.
Tonight’s Forecast
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Opponent | San Diego Padres |
| Role | Opener, 1–2 innings |
| Watch for | Fastball velocity, command of secondary pitches, inning length |
| Broadcast | ESPN, TBS, and MLB.TV live from Dodger Stadium |
In summary: Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound tonight is not just another stat—it could reshape the Dodgers season. His success could soothe a depleted staff and ignite another MVP run. The baseball world watches, breaths held, as Ohtani takes the first step back toward two-way greatness.
Information from AP News’ “Shohei Ohtani to make his long‑awaited return,” Reuters’ “Shohei Ohtani to return to mound vs. Padres,” ESPN’s reports, and The Athletic’s detailed update was used in this story.
