Dodgers Interview: Smith Reflects on Catching Ohtani’s Electric Return to the Mound
“He did a great job."
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers catcher Will Smith had the best seat in the house for one of the most anticipated moments of the season—Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound. In Monday night’s 6–3 win over the Padres, Ohtani pitched an inning for the first time in nearly two years, and Smith, who caught the frame, described the experience as “fun” and “exciting.”
“It was fun to see him out there, you know, pitching at Dodger Stadium for the first time,” Smith said postgame. “Hopefully a lot more innings to come.”
The crowd buzzed with anticipation as Ohtani warmed up, and Smith admitted the energy was palpable. “You could feel the excitement. You could see all the fans that flocked to the bullpen to see him warm up. Everyone was excited—we were excited. So it was good to see him out there.”
Though Ohtani only threw one inning, his velocity and command stood out. “I was so impressed,” Smith said. “It’s tough getting out there for the first time, big game, starting for a new team. We just tried to get him settled in.”
Smith acknowledged that settling in fully in just one inning is difficult, but believed the outing was a strong step forward. “He did a great job. I’m sure next time, whenever that is, he’ll be a little better. But it’s Shohei—we expect a whole lot from him.”
As for the stuff? “His velocity was pretty good,” Smith said. “In bullpens and live sessions, he’s been throwing hard. He probably had a little extra adrenaline tonight. I know he touched 99, and all that—it’s good to see.”
When asked if Ohtani seemed nervous, Smith was quick to respond. “No, he didn’t seem nervous at all. He was excited. He’s been looking forward to this moment for a while.”
Smith said their pregame preparation felt like any other start. “We met, came up with a game plan. It seemed like a normal day for him. Just excited, ready to help the team win.”
The Dodgers also rallied offensively behind their two-way star, with Smith playing a role in the fourth-inning outburst that chased Padres starter Dylan Cease. “We just started collecting hits,” he explained. “Got on base, some soft contact, a couple balls fell in, took good at-bats, and got a few big hits.”
It was a night full of milestones and emotion—but also, according to Smith, just the beginning. “We all know what Shohei can do,” he said. “This was step one.”
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