Dodgers Analysis: We break down Shohei’s first inning back on the bump in an uneven, but electric debut

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani made his long-awaited return to the mound Monday night, pitching in Dodger Blue for the first time and showcasing both his electric stuff and early-season rust. The two-way superstar, who hadn’t pitched in a Major League game since the 2023 season, opened the night against the Padres with a 99.1 mph fastball—but left the inning trailing 1-0 after some unfortunate contact, a questionable call, and a pair of well-placed hits.

Despite the blemish, it was a significant moment not only for Ohtani but for the Dodgers organization and fans who had waited months to see the Japanese phenom take the ball again.

Back on the Bump

From the very first pitch, Ohtani looked fired up. He pumped fastballs consistently in the 98–100 mph range and showed flashes of his devastating off-speed arsenal, including a low-80s sweeper and a mid-90s splitter. But the inning underscored just how fine the line is at the highest level.

The leadoff batter, Fernando Tatis Jr., managed a bloop single on a 99.1 mph fastball—barely leaving the infield, with an exit velocity of just 74.6 mph and a launch angle of 32 degrees. Ohtani quickly got to a full count against Tatis after missing low and glove side with a few sinkers and sweepers, but appeared to be finding his rhythm when he induced a weak fly ball that simply landed in the wrong spot.

Next, Luis Arraez worked a six-pitch at-bat, capitalizing on a wild pitch to move Tatis into scoring position before slapping a 98 mph sinker into center field. Tatis raced to third, and the Padres were suddenly threatening with nobody out.

Costly Non-Call, Unlucky Break

Manny Machado was up next, and Ohtani came inches from getting his first strikeout as a Dodger—literally. On a 2-2 pitch, Machado appeared to go around on a check swing, but home plate umpire Tripp Gibson didn’t call it, and first base ump Ryan Blakney denied the appeal. The very next pitch, a sweeper, was sent to center for a sacrifice fly, scoring Tatis and giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. The ball wasn’t hit deep, and Andy Pages made a nice throw to Will Smith at home, but the speedy Tatis barely slid under the tag to score the Padres’ first run of the game.

That missed strike call could have changed the entire inning.

Ohtani bounced back by retiring Gavin Sheets on a ground ball thanks to a great play by second baseman Tommy Edman. He then closed the inning with help from Max Muncy, who made a slick play at third to retire Xander Bogaerts by half a step.

Mixed Results, but Encouraging Signs

Though he didn’t record a strikeout, Ohtani pitched with elite velocity and showed moments of dominance, especially in working ahead of hitters. Each of the first four batters reached two strikes in the count, but Ohtani couldn’t find the consistent command on his secondary pitches to finish the at-bats.

Notably, Ohtani’s sweeper drew a few ugly swings and his fastball touched 100.2 mph. He also worked in a splitter, although it lacked some bite and was spiked into the dirt on a couple of occasions.

Ohtani’s location was inconsistent, with many of his misses veering glove side. Still, there were some generous strike calls from Tripp Gibson that helped him regain control of counts. The lack of a putaway pitch may have stemmed from both adrenaline and rust.

A Work in Progress

Overall, it was an uneven but not discouraging return to pitching for Ohtani. The stat line doesn’t tell the full story: 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 strikeouts, 0 walks. He faced adversity, but responded with poise, trusting his defense and not unraveling after the borderline calls and bloop hits.

For Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the front office, this appearance likely served as a baseline—an initial look at how far Ohtani has come and how far he still needs to go to become a regular contributor on the mound again.

But after months of speculation and rehab, the most important development was this: Ohtani is back. The next steps—refining command, building pitch count, and reestablishing his strikeout stuff—will come in time.

And if tonight was any indication, the stuff is still there. It’s just a matter of sharpening it.

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