Dodgers Interview: Roberts talks Ohtani, pitching plans for rest of series
“A Really Positive Day for Us”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani’s long-awaited return to the mound brought excitement, emotion, and electric stuff to Dodger Stadium—and no one appreciated it more than Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Speaking to reporters after Los Angeles’ 6–3 win over the Padres, Roberts praised Ohtani’s effort in his first MLB pitching appearance in over 650 days, saying the night was both special and encouraging.
“I thought it was great,” Roberts said. “Obviously, we gave up a run, but I thought the stuff was really good—much better as far as the fastball velocity than I think anyone anticipated. He hit 100. I was thinking 95 to 97, but I think the adrenaline, the competitor in him, just came out.”
Ohtani threw 28 pitches in his inning of work, allowing two hits and one earned run. Roberts confirmed he had a strict limit in mind: “I wasn’t going to push him past 30. Bogarts was going to be his last hitter no matter what.”
Roberts was particularly struck by Ohtani’s ability to manage the moment—physically and emotionally. “It’s tough to come back from a second Tommy John surgery and do what he did. The stuff was electric. The command was better than I expected. You’ve got to be extremely disciplined to put your mind and body in position to do that.”
Even beyond the numbers, Roberts couldn’t help but admire Ohtani’s two-way presence. Just moments after throwing his final pitch, Ohtani was back in the dugout, putting on his elbow guard and batting gloves to step into the on-deck circle.
“It was really interesting to see him come straight from the mound, decline a bottle of water, get a towel from Bob Geren to wipe sweat off his forehead, and then go take an at-bat,” Roberts said. “I was kind of fanboying for like half an inning.”
As a hitter, Ohtani remained productive, driving in two runs and reaching base three times. Roberts said the adrenaline of pitching didn’t seem to sap his offense. “It didn’t affect his swing at all. He looked like himself in the batter’s box.”
Asked if Ohtani showed a different personality on the mound, Roberts confirmed what others have noticed. “Yeah, I think there’s definitely a different pitcher persona. He gets a little more emotional, a little more frustrated if things don’t go right. He was a little animated—like on that check swing call with Manny. He wanted that one.”
While Roberts didn’t offer a firm comp for Ohtani’s mound demeanor, he admired his aggressive mindset. “Just the physicality, the stuff, the way he came after hitters—I liked it.”
As for what’s next, the Dodgers plan to treat Ohtani’s pitching workload cautiously. “We’re thinking once a week, something like six, seven, maybe eight days between outings,” Roberts said. “Whether it’s one inning again or two next time—we’ll see. It’s a read-and-react situation.”
He also touched on the possibility of pairing Ben Casparius as a piggyback option moving forward. “That’s something we’re considering, but nothing’s set in stone yet.”
Despite the hype and pressure surrounding the return, Roberts insisted it wasn’t about relief, but rather satisfaction. “I don’t think we were nervous. We’ve done everything the right way in the process. I think we’re just excited to finally have that first one under our belt.”
And when Ohtani touched triple digits?
“Was I excited or concerned?” Roberts laughed. “Maybe more the latter. I was kind of hoping for a tempered 96 or 97. But when you’re a competitor and you’ve got 100 in the tank, you’re going to use it.”
Ultimately, Roberts believes Ohtani’s ability to thrive under pressure comes down to mindset.
“He loves the challenge. He’s not just playing around out there—he takes pride in being great at both things. That’s who he is. He focuses on the task at hand, and he enjoys every bit of it.”
With the first step in his return complete, Ohtani’s next start remains TBD—but his manager, like the fans, can’t wait to see it.
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