June 16 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will return to the mound for the first time since 2023, with a start against the San Diego Padres on Monday in Los Angeles, the team announced.
"Shohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Sunday in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers will host the Padres at 10:10 p.m. EDT at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani, who leads the American League with 25 home runs, went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA over 23 starts in 2023. He underwent a second surgery on his right elbow in September of that year and hasn't pitched since Aug. 23, 2023.
Ohtani is expected to pitch for one or two innings in his highly anticipated Dodgers pitching debut.
"The anticipation here for the game is, man, it's going to be bananas when it happens," Roberts said.
