Six hundred and fifty-nine days. That’s nearly two full regular seasons, a presidential election cycle, and enough time for the Dodgers to replace half their pitching staff with ice packs. That’s how long we’ve waited to see Shohei Ohtani pick up a baseball, dig into the rubber, and let one rip in a live Major League game.

Tonight in Chavez Ravine, Shohei Ohtani is finally stepping back on a big-league mound. While it’s expected to be just one inning, there’s a chance we see a second if the first goes smoothly.

This isn’t some ceremonial appearance either. He’s facing a legit Padres lineup that knows all too well what he can do at the plate. Now they’ll get a look at the other side of Shohei — the side we haven’t seen since August 2023. After nearly two full years of watching him dominate as a hitter, baseball’s unicorn is ready to roll again.

A Long Road From That August Afternoon

Let’s go back to August 23, 2023. It was a Wednesday, Game 1 of a doubleheader between the Angels and Reds. Ohtani took the mound like any other start, already carving up hitters early with his signature splitter. But partway through the second inning, something was clearly off. His velocity dipped, and moments later, he walked off the mound.

A day later, the bad news dropped: another torn UCL. It was the same elbow ligament he’d injured back in 2018, and just like that, his 2023 season on the mound was over.

The timing made it sting even more. Ohtani wasn’t just good — he was dominating. He had a 3.14 ERA, 167 strikeouts in 132 innings, and opponents were batting a laughable .184 against him. He was one of the best pitchers in the game despite logging fewer innings than most aces, and from 2021 to the day of his injury, he still managed to rank 11th in total pitching fWAR. The guy was pitching like a Cy Young candidate while leading the league in homers.

Naturally, the big question was: Would we ever see two-way Shohei again?

Even with a torn UCL, he kept hitting. For about a week and a half after the diagnosis, he stayed in the lineup as the Angels' DH, going 9-for-30 with a 1.001 OPS. It wasn’t until an oblique strain flared up that the Angels finally shut him down for good.

Turning a Rehab Year Into an All-Time Season

While most players would’ve spent the year rehabbing in the shadows, Shohei Ohtani turned 2024 into a reminder that even half of his game is better than most players' whole package.

He couldn't pitch — not with a healing UCL and the Dodgers wisely playing it safe — but the bat never missed a beat. If anything, it got even more dangerous. As a full-time DH in his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani put together a year so ridiculous, it barely felt real:

• .310 / .390 / .646 slash line

• 54 home runs — most in all of baseball

• 59 stolen bases — second in the National League

• 1.036 OPS — best in MLB

• 9.2 bWAR — all as a hitter and runner

No tricks, no gimmicks — just a guy mashing like peak Bonds while also swiping bags like prime Rickey. And in doing so, he created a new category altogether: the first 50-homer / 50-steal season in MLB history.

He didn’t just win the MVP, either. He won it unanimously for the third time, something no one else in history has done. He also became just the second player ever (after Frank Robinson) to win MVPs in both leagues.

For a guy who was “only” supposed to hit in 2024, it turned into one of the most complete seasons we’ve ever seen from any player — pitching or not, and capped it off with a ring.

2025: Same Unicorn, New Tricks

Ohtani came into today already leading the National League in both home runs (25) and runs scored (73) while slashing .297 / .393 / .642. Fangraphs already has him at 3.8 fWAR, and again, that’s only what he’s done with the bat and on the bases. If he gives the Dodgers even league-average innings as a pitcher the rest of the way, it pushes his overall value into MVP lock territory.

He’s flirting with another 50-homer season, and while the Dodgers haven’t looked as dominant as last year, they’ve stayed near the top of the NL West largely because Ohtani’s been everything they paid for offensively. With so many pitchers down, his offense has been their anchor. Now, they get to see what happens when he adds the other half of his game back into the mix.

Why Just One Inning

Most pitchers coming off elbow surgery get a chance to ease back in with a few rehab starts in the minors. They build up their pitch count in front of a few thousand fans, far away from the spotlight. Shohei doesn’t get that luxury.

The Dodgers can’t just send him down to Triple-A for tune-ups and lose his bat in the lineup. So instead, he has to work his way back under the bright lights, in front of 50,000 fans, on national TV.

That’s part of why he’s only expected to go one inning tonight (maybe two if it’s quick and clean). The Dodgers are using live batting practice sessions, bullpen tune-ups, and now real game action to slowly build him up — right on the main stage. It’s a weird spot, but it’s also uniquely Ohtani. 

What We’ll Be Watching Tonight

1. Radar‑Gun Reality Check

One of the big things fans will be watching tonight is what the radar gun says. Before the injury, Ohtani sat in the 97–100 mph range and could touch 102 when he really reached back. But tonight? We’re probably not seeing triple digits, and that’s fine.

If he’s sitting 94–96 mph with some zip and carry, that’s a win. It’s not about max effort right now — it’s about finding a baseline that keeps him healthy and effective. The adrenaline’s going to be there, but the Dodgers aren’t looking for a velocity show.

2. The Splitter — Baseball’s Disappearing Ink

Ohtani’s splitter has always been a cheat code. In 2023, it had a 47% whiff rate — that’s “good luck” territory for hitters. He made big-league batters look completely lost, especially late in counts.

Since the surgery, reports from bullpen sessions have said the feel is still there. But until it gets tested under real-game pressure, no one knows for sure. If we see that late, diving movement tonight — and more importantly, if hitters swing over it — it’s a sign that pitch survived the rebuild.

3. Command vs. Adrenaline

This is where things could get interesting. Early in his career, Ohtani had a tendency to lose the zone when the moment got big. Fastballs would sail, splitters would spike, and you could see him trying to muscle his way through it.

Now, coming off surgery and with tighter mechanics, there’s hope he’s more in control. But nerves are real. Even for someone who’s been on every stage, this is different. It’s his first time pitching since surgery, doing it in Dodger Stadium, in a real game. The leash is short, but the emotions are going to be high.

Enjoy This While We’ve Got It

Ohtani’s return to the mound isn’t about some fairytale moment or box-score heroics. It’s about the simple reality that one of the most talented players we’ve ever seen is still trying to do both sides of the job at the highest level. That’s not normal. It’s not easy. And it definitely shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Tonight might be messy. But that’s kind of the beauty of it — he’s working his way back out there with everyone watching, no minor-league buffer, no soft landing. Just Ohtani, on a big-league mound, doing something we weren’t sure we’d ever see again.