Shohei Ohtani’s first time pitching to hitters as a Dodger is a success: ‘He’s a top-end starter’

NEW YORK – For so long, the Los Angeles Dodgers could only imagine what it would be like to watch Shohei Ohtani pitching off a big-league mound, facing major-league hitters, while wearing the Dodger blue. It’s been a long and unfamiliar journey for Los Angeles’ two-way star — and there’s more uncharted territory ahead — but finally, it’s beginning to feel real.

"I've gotten so used to seeing him as a hitter," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "So to see him on the mound just solely as a pitcher, it was different. And certainly exciting for all of us."

On Sunday afternoon at Citi Field, Ohtani faced major-league hitters for the first time since his September 2023 elbow surgery. If Ohtani was nervous, it was impossible to tell. His patented easy-going attitude was on display throughout the outing. The first hitter he faced in nearly two years was Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim, followed by catcher Dalton Rushing, and game-planning coach J.T. Watkins. 

Ohtani threw 22 pitches — including his fastball, sinker, cutter, sweeper and splitter — in a live batting-practice session that took place just four hours before Ohtani batted leadoff in the Dodgers’ series finale against the Mets. He threw mostly fastballs, while mixing in two sweepers and one splitter. His velocity hovered around 94-95 mph, but he let it fly, touching 97 mph, in his matchup against Watkins, of all people. 

"He threw the nastiest pitches to [Watkins]," Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. "It was already unfair, and then he compounded that and made it even more unfair. But I give J.T. a lot of credit for getting in the box and taking his shot."

When Kim hit a comebacker, Ohtani snagged the ball and pretended to throw it to first base. The crowd that