The long-anticipated wait is over — Shohei Ohtani is able to pitch.
The Dodgers introduced after Sunday’s 5-4 win over the Giants that Ohtani will make his Dodgers pitching debut Monday towards the San Diego Padres. He’ll begin, however there’s an opportunity he will probably be an opener, solely pitching one inning.
For Ohtani, it’s been a protracted street again to pitching. He signed with the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700-million contract earlier than the 2024 season — a price representing not simply his MVP-level bat, however his potential Cy Younger Award-level pitching.
He underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in September 2023, solely hitting in his first season with the Dodgers. He tallied unprecedented numbers on the plate (.310 batting common, league-high 54 house runs, 130 RBI and 59 stolen bases). In latest weeks, Ohtani ramped up his throwing program, dealing with stay hitters a handful of instances.
Ohtani had been good for the Angels, going 38-19 with a 3.01 earned-run common over 86 begins since coming over from Japan earlier than the 2018 season. In 2022, Ohtani posted his finest pitching numbers within the majors, with a 15-9 file, a 2.33 earned-run common and 219 strikeouts over 166 innings en path to inserting fourth in AL Cy Younger Award voting.
It’ll possible be an incremental begin for Ohtani as he appears so as to add extra pitches and innings within the weeks forward.
“He’s getting very eager, getting very excited,” Roberts stated earlier than Sunday’s sport. “I think that there’s a point where, in hearing from Shohei, that the effort that it takes to throw lives and things like that, [rather] than to play a game, then let’s use those bullets in a game. He’s getting very excited.”
Now these proverbial “bullets” will probably be used Monday evening at Dodger Stadium.
