Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani fine after pitching outing
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LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani came out of his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in good order, even if he was his own worst critic.
The two-way superstar from Japan gave up a run and a pair of two-strike hits in one inning of work Monday night against San Diego as he returned from right elbow surgery. It was his first outing since August 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels.
At the plate, he had two hits and two RBIs in the Dodgers' 6-3 win.
"I think he's just a little fatigued but feels good," manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday.
Ohtani was in his usual leadoff spot as the designated hitter Tuesday night against the Padres. He'll likely throw a light bullpen in the next few days.
How did Ohtani rate his pitching?
"Not quite happy with the results overall," he said through a translator. "But I think the biggest takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to go out for my next outing."
He threw 28 pitches -- 16 for strikes -- and his fastball topped out at 100.2 mph -- the second-hardest pitch thrown by a Dodgers hurler this season.
"What I noticed is that when I warm up to pitch in the game, I'm already really warmed up going into the game," he said. "So I did feel a lot better overall than when I'm just DHing."
When is Ohtani's next start?
Roberts indicated Ohtani could pitch Saturday or Sunday when the Washington Nationals are in town.
"It's kind of a week situation," he said, "but it's not like a hard and fast seven days."
The Dodgers open a six-game trip at Colorado on Tuesday, but it seems unlikely Ohtani would pitch in Denver's high altitude where the thin air reduces the movement of pitches, particularly fastballs and curveballs, and favors hitters.
Will Ohtani add an inning in each start?
The team has the option to add an inning in his next start or keep him at one. The decision will be made between the medical staff and Ohtani, Roberts said.