Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) showcased the essence of a two-way player in his return to pitching and hitting after 663 days.
On the 17th (Korea time), Ohtani participated as the leadoff batter and starting pitcher in the first game of a home four-game series against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, in the 2025 Major League Baseball season, recording 1 inning with 2 hits and 1 earned run before being replaced in the second inning and returning as a designated hitter, hitting a tying double.
Ohtani took the mound for the first time in 663 days since August 24, 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels against the Cincinnati Reds. In the first inning, he allowed consecutive hits to table setters Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez, then gave up his first earned run on a sacrifice fly to Manny Machado; however, he displayed a variety of pitches, including high-speed fastballs exceeding 160 km/h, as well as sweepers, splitters, and sinkers, indicating future prospects for his two-way play. He threw 28 pitches (16 strikes).
At the plate, he appeared as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning but struck out swinging against San Diego starter Dylan Cease. The second at-bat was different. In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs and a runner on third while trailing 0-1, he hit a tying double to left-center off Cease, announcing the return of the MVP two-way player. Ohtani expressed the joy of tying the game with a dance celebration, shaking his arms and hips at second base.
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