Does Alex Rodriguez think Otani should go back to pitching?
Seriously in the sport Mackenzie Salmon asks Alex Rodriguez about the Dodgers and the Dodgers and Shoe Hei’s focus on hitting more than pitching now.
Seriously sports
LOS ANGELES – Shohei ohtani took the mound as Los Angeles Dodger.
The three-time MVP made his pitching debut on Monday, June 16th, facing the San Diego Padres in his first appearance as a pitcher since August 2023.
It wasn’t the most beautiful outing as he allowed one run after surrendering a hit to the first two batters of the game and the sacrifice fly. The defense then played to get him out of the innings. It’s the only inning he pitches in front of a enthusiastic Dodger Stadium crowd.
Still, he was productive with bats with two hits and two RBIs as four innings of five runs won the Dodgers 6-3 over their division rivals.
Otani’s first outing was quickly realized with a way to return to the mound. Otani has made progress in simulated games for the past few weeks as he struggled with the Los Angeles Angels after rehabilitating his arm during the 2024 MVP season and recovering from the secondary ligaments of his torn ulnar, he suffered alongside the Angels of Los Angeles. The prediction was that he would throw the pitch after the All-Star break in July, but the team chose to give Otani an early green light.
USA Today Sports has highlights and more from Ohtani’s 2025 pitching debut.
Los Angeles – Otani’s Dodgers’ pitching debut continues once.
After giving up back-to-back singles to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arez, Manny Machado hits sacrifice fly out of the zone to give San Diego an early lead. The defense then assisted Otani as Gavin sheet grounded at 2 base and Xander Bogaerts grounded at 3 base to finish the inning.
Otani threw 28 pitches on 16 strikes. His fastball and sinker were hovering at about 98 mph with the sweeper around 89 mph. He gave up one run with two hits, so he touched 100 mph in the frame.
Anthony Bunda comes to Los Angeles in two innings to finish Otani’s night on the mound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbzwjhkrns
A run that gave up on Otani? One. The run Otani won? two.
The Dodgers star knocked it in the second RBI of the night of four innings, bringing in one Andy page and appears to be on track at the plate. It was part of five innings that Los Angeles took a 6-2 lead.
He gives up one run and runs one run right away.
Otani prevented him from acquiring Andy Page so he couldn’t get a loss in an RBI double in three innings. It’s going to be a 1-1 game and Otani can’t get a pitching decision.
Otani stays in the leadoff position after he leaves the mound. He has the Padres pitcher delinquent stopped and swinging.
Otani almost attacks Machado with his check swing. Machado hits center fielder Andy Page, with Fernando Tatis tagging up and heads home before Will Smith gets the tag to give San Diego a 1-0 lead.
Hit Ohatani in a row and place the runner in the corner without outs.
After fouling the first pitch of the game, Otani is counted completely, but Tatis hits the shallow center field from the single. He then placed second on the wild pitch.
The two-way star takes the mound for his first pitching start as a Dodger.
How to watch the Dodgers and Padres
The San Diego Padres travel to Dodger Stadium to face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.
- date: Monday, June 16th
- time: 10:10pm
- tv set: MLB Network
- position: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)
LOS ANGELES – Pre-game expectations were Otani pitching one inning on Monday and he wasn’t on the pitch count. Roberts said he expects extra adrenaline, but his focus will be on Otani’s conducting, streaming and stressing, and will determine how much time he will spend.
The day also serves as a starting point for how he feels after going out, and they talk about his pitching duties every day.
The plan is to stretch him as a starter by the time October rolls, but Roberts doesn’t expect Otani to pitch every five days. The Dodgers skipper thought about moving him out of the leadoff spot, but Otani said he had no problem getting into the batter’s box straight off the mound.
“We see how it responds and we’re still gathering information. I think it will help us with the decisions we have in the future,” Roberts said.
- shohei ohtani (l)p
- Mookie Betts(R)ss
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1b
- Teoscar Hernández (R)RF
- Will Smith (R)c
- Max Muncy (L) 3b
- Andy Pages(r)cf
- Michael Comfort (L) LF
- Tommy Edman (s) 2b
pitcher:RH Dylan Cease – 2-5, 4.28 ERA, 96
- Fernando Tate Jr. (R)RF
- Lewis Arseltz (L) 1b
- Manny Machado (R)3b
- Gavin Sheet (L) LF
- Xander Bogaerts(R)ss
- Jake Cronenworth (L) 2b
- Trenton Brooks (L) DH
- Tyler Wade (L) cf
- Martín Maldonado (R)c
- 2018: 4-2, 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeout 51 innings pitching
- 2019: Didn’t pitch (injury)
- 2020: 0-1, 37.80 ERA and 3 strikeouts in one inning
- 2021: 9-2 with 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts pitched in 130.1 innings
- 2022: 15-9 ERA 2.33, 219 strikeouts pitched in 166 innings
- 2023: 10-5 with 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings
- 2024: Didn’t pitch (injury)
Otani has not pitched since August 23, 2023. As a member of the Los Angeles Angels, Otani pitched 1.1 innings with the Cincinnati Reds on one walk and two strikeouts before leaving the game with an injury. He needed surgery on his torn ulnar collateral ligament, which has been preventing him from pitching ever since.
Otani underwent surgery on two Tommy Johns in his career. He had his first at the end of his rookie season in October 2018 and was in his final season with the Angels in September 2023.
