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Dodgers Make Big Shohei Ohtani Announcement Ahead of Padres Matchup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 12:00 AM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t missed a beat since winning the World Series in 2024, and now they’re set to get another major boost ahead of Monday’s matchup against NL West rival, the San Diego Padres.

Following their 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday Night Baseball, the Dodgers made a significant announcement regarding superstar Shohei Ohtani, revealing that he’s set to return to the mound on Monday night against the Padres.

This will mark not only his first pitching appearance in a Dodgers uniform since signing with the team, but also his first start overall since Aug 23, 2023.

"Shohei Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow night against the San Diego Padres," Dodgers posted on social media.

Shohei Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow night against the San Diego Padres.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 16, 2025

While Ohtani continues to shine as one of the game’s most dominant hitters, his ability to contribute on the mound adds an entirely new dimension to both his game and the Dodgers' arsenal.

So far this season, Ohtani has tallied 25 home runs, 41 RBIs, and is batting .290 with a 1.023 OPS. His return to the rotation comes at a critical time for Los Angeles, with Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Roki Sasaki all currently on the IL.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted that Shohei Ohtani could be making his debut as a pitcher for the team very soon. Just minutes after his postgame interview, it was confirmed that Ohtani’s return to the mound would be coming even sooner than many had interpreted from Roberts’ comments.

Ohtani has been rehabbing from the second elbow surgery of his career, and while he likely could have returned earlier, the Dodgers have been extremely cautious with their franchise cornerstone. It also helps that they haven’t needed his pitching contributions to continue winning games.

Across 86 career MLB starts—all with the Los Angeles Angels—Ohtani holds a 38-19 record with a 3.01 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 608 strikeouts.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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