Shohei Ohtani (31, Los Angeles Dodgers) is set to return to the mound. He will make his comeback as an opener for 1 to 2 innings sooner than expected.

The Dodgers announced on their official social media on the 16th that Ohtani would be the starting pitcher for the home game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on the 17th at 11:10 a.m.

After winning the game against the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on the same day, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted in an official interview that Ohtani is expected to pitch during the four-game series against San Diego from the 17th to the 20th.

Roberts said, "It’s likely that Ohtani will pitch as an opener. I think he will probably go for about 1 inning at first," shortly before the Dodgers made an official announcement.

With this, Ohtani returns to the mound for the first time in 663 days since the doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds on August 23, 2023, while he was with the Los Angeles Angels. It will be his first pitching appearance in a Dodgers uniform.

Ohtani, who underwent elbow surgery in September 2023 and started his rehabilitation, focused on being a designated hitter without pitching last year. This year, balancing both designated hitter and rehabilitation, Ohtani began live batting practice pitching on the 25th of last month, throwing the ball as if in a game, signaling his imminent return.

As of the 10th, Ohtani had conducted a total of three sessions of live pitching. On the 10th, he pitched the most 44 balls against 11 batters, striking out 6. Initially expected to return right after the All-Star break in July, fans will be able to see "Pitcher Ohtani" much sooner.

Typically, pitchers who have undergone major surgery go through a rehabilitation process in the minor leagues before returning to the major leagues. However, Ohtani, who must play as a designated hitter every day, did not have the luxury of going down to the minor leagues for rehabilitation appearances. His appearance against San Diego on the 17th should effectively be seen as a rehabilitation outing in the major leagues.

While the outcome is unknown, there is a sense of anticipation. Fans, as well as the Dodgers players, are filled with excitement. Roberts noted, "Ohtani's return as a pitcher excites me as well. The fact that I’m still a baseball fan hasn’t changed. Having Ohtani on the mound is a very good thing for the team and the entire baseball community."

Team fellow pitcher Clayton Kershaw shares the same sentiment. In an interview during the game with ESPN, Kershaw conveyed the team atmosphere by saying, "All of our players are looking forward to Ohtani's return as a pitcher. It’s like we are all waiting like fans."

Kershaw continued, "Having Ohtani on the mound is a huge boost for the team in itself. Whether it’s for 1 inning or a few innings, it will be an incredible boost. Seeing him hitting for a .300 batting average, hitting home runs, stealing bases, and pitching is truly amazing. I'm grateful to be on the same team as Ohtani."

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