Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound for the Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound on Sunday for his second-ever start as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a strong effort in another abbreviated outing for the two-way star, who's working his way back to a normal pitching load after undergoing UCL surgery in 2023.

Shohei Ohtani finishes first inning pitched of 2025 He threw 28 pitches (16 strikes) and hit 100.2 mph with his four-seamer -- which was tied with Michael Kopech for the Dodgers' second-fastest pitch of the season, behind Roki Sasaki reaching 100.5. Fourteen of Ohtani's pitches registered at or above 98 mph.

Ohtani had not pitched since undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023. His recovery timetable was pushed back after he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during the World Series and required surgery to repair that injury.