The decision came down to Shohei Ohtani.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers weighed how, and when, the two-way sensation would make his long-awaited return to an MLB mound, Ohtani made it clear he felt ready to go.
That cleared Ohtani to make his first start of the season on Monday night against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.
“He’s ready to pitch in a major league game,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “He let us know that.”
Ohtani was set to pitch as the opener in Monday’s game, with Roberts saying he expected the right-hander to go an inning or two.
The Dodgers plan to ramp up Ohtani’s workload from there.
“It’s good for our team,” Roberts said. “Our guys are excited about this potential, and obviously, most importantly, I’m excited for Shohei.”
Ohtani had last pitched on Aug. 23, 2023, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
He underwent surgery on his right elbow that September, then signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers that December.
Ohtani has been increasing his mound work in recent weeks, including facing hitters for the first time since the surgery during a live bullpen session at Citi Field on May 25.
He most recently simulated three innings during a live session.
“A week ago, we were talking about another live [session] and potentially getting to four innings and things like that,” Roberts said. “But [with] the conversations and the confidence that he has, it’s time to go.”
Pitchers coming back from surgery typically appear in at least five minor-league games, but because Ohtani is also Los Angeles’ designated hitter, the Dodgers had to get creative with his rehab.
They determined that allowing the hard-throwing Ohtani to build up his pitch count in MLB games, rather than taxing him with lengthy live sessions, was the best course of action.
Ohtani boasts a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481.2 innings in his MLB career.
The surgery was Ohtani’s second significant elbow operation since 2018.
Ohtani, 30, also needed surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder last offseason for an injury he suffered against the Yankees during the World Series, which further complicated his return to the mound.
He now joins an embattled Dodgers rotation that is missing Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki, among others, due to injuries.
Ohtani will continue to hit on the days he pitches, Roberts said. Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP, entered Monday batting .297 with an NL-leading 25 home runs.
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