Ohtani Returns to the Mound: Dodgers’ Two-Way Star Dazzles in First Pitching Session Since Surgery

Shohei Ohtani is back where he belongs — not just crushing baseballs but delivering them, too.

In a much-anticipated return to the mound, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani faced live hitters for the first time since undergoing his second major elbow surgery in September 2023. The session, held at Citi Field before the Dodgers’ series finale against the Mets, was the first glimpse of Ohtani’s long-awaited return to two-way dominance — and it did not disappoint.

Under the warm afternoon sun and a crowd of curious teammates, coaches, and even rival players, Ohtani threw 22 pitches — a mix of fastballs, cutters, sinkers, sweepers, and his signature splitter. His fastball velocity sat comfortably around 94-95 mph, topping out at 97. He looked loose, confident, and — in classic Ohtani fashion — like he was having the time of h

“I haven’t thrown in a while, so it was nice to feel like a pitcher again,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, grinning after the session.

The right-hander faced Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim, catcher Dalton Rushing, and game planning coach J.T. Watkins. Despite the competitive spirit, the outing was full of smiles and antics. When Kim hit a grounder back to the mound, Ohtani playfully mimed a throw to first. Moments later, after striking out Watkins, he pointed to the strike zone and laughed, drawing cheers from his watching teammates.

“It was fun, it was free and easy, and that’s a great sign after surgery,” said Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. “His stuff looked good. More importantly, he looked healthy and happy.”

And just hours later, Ohtani proved he’s not just back on the mound — he’s still crushing at the plate. In the very first inning, he launched his 18th home run of the season, tying him for the MLB lead alongside Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber. It was a moonshot to the second deck off Mets starter Kodai Senga — classic Sho-time.

Ohtani’s journey back to full two-way play has been methodical. After signing a historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, the team has carefully managed his workload, especially after he also underwent surgery on his non-pitching shoulder last November.

The tentative plan is for Ohtani to continue facing hitters weekly, with a potential return to the Dodgers’ starting rotation after the All-Star break. Until then, the team will monitor his progress and adjust accordingly. Manager Dave Roberts emphasized the importance of balancing both sides of Ohtani’s game, saying, “We have to be nimble with his workload. But if it works out, he’s a top-end starter — and that’s the expectation.”

For now, Dodgers fans can celebrate a milestone moment: their two-way superstar is throwing again, and he’s doing it with the same grace, power, and joy that has made him one of the most electrifying players in baseball history.