There was a buzz in the air at Dodger Stadium—one of those nights where the warmups looked like a show. Everyone seemed to be waiting for Shohei Ohtani to do something extraordinary. It was not just about his return—it was about whether the wait had been worth it. As he stepped onto the field for his long-anticipated comeback, Dave Roberts kept a close eye, not just on the radar gun, but also on the little details that do not show up in highlight reels. What came after was not just a performance; it became a moment that drew powerful words, sharp takes, and left plenty to unpack from the dugout and the broadcast booth.
Ohtani’s return had all the fireworks, but some misfires too. The Dodgers manager did not sugarcoat it after the game. “Early on, the slider like, in San Diego, it was bottomed out at the knees,” Roberts said. “Then the second time around, he started to miss up a little bit, and we got more wood on it. So I think that just the location.” In a game where Ohtani’s stuff was undeniably electric, it was the inch-high miss on the two-way star’s slider and the elevated fastballs that enabled the Padres to make contact. As the manager said, the issue was simple but costly—location and in MLB, that is everything.
However, while Roberts focused on what went wrong, former MLB star Xavier Scruggs saw multiple good things. Speaking on MLB Network Radio, Scruggs praised Ohtani’s comeback and said, “It is just mind-blowing at such a high level to bring that velocity after not doing it for a good amount of time.”
Scruggs acknowledged the missed glove-side command, but he was more impressed by the Dodgers’ two-way phenom’s ability to fight through a rocky inning without letting it unravel. “That inning could have blown up on him,” Scruggs added, “but he got out of it. That shows maturity.” He called Ohtani “a different animal but the same beast,” highlighting how, in a high-pressure return, the star managed his power and still went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.
It was Sho-Time in Los Angeles as Shohei Ohtani made his first start on the mound since 2023! @Dodgers | #LetsGoDodgers | https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/gyIM79Ihzt
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 17, 2025
Honestly, the numbers back it up. In front of 53,207 buzzing fans, Ohtani’s pitching return was part movie premiere, part MLB clinic. He faced five batters, gave up a pair of two-strike hits, and surrendered a run in a 28-pitch first inning. However, we can not forget: Ohtani also hit 100.2 mph, which is the second-fastest pitch by a Dodger this season—just 21 months after elbow surgery. Then, in true fashion, Ohtani turned around and laced a run-scoring double and an RBI single to help seal a 6–3 win.
It was no minor league rehab; instead, it was just Sho-Time stepping back onto the big stage, nerves and all. As Max Muncy said, “Stuff looked electric… just maybe not the command yet.” With the assumption of pitching once a week, his return could not be flawless; however, it was already rewriting the rulebook for two-way greatness.
All eyes were on Ohtani, but the Dodgers’ pitching reinforcements could not stop there.
Emmet Sheehan’s comeback could be the lifeline to Dodgers’ injury-riddled rotation
While Shohei Ohtani soaked up the attention, Emmet Sheehan’s pending return could be the behind-the-scenes boost the team’s battered rotation truly needs. Out since May 2024 after his Tommy John surgery, Sheehan has made four rehab starts this year and recently threw 63 pitches for Triple-A Oklahoma City, striking out seven while walking just one. Though he gave up four earned runs in that outing, Sheehan’s 44.7 percent strikeout rate across his rehab stint highlighted a live arm returning to form. With eight starters on the injured list and bullpen fatigue mounting, the manager is eyeing him as a powerful sixth starter as early as Tuesday.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Friday, June 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sheehan’s 5.23 ERA could not look like a savior, but his September 2023 stats, which were 3.68 ERA, 22 innings, and enhanced command, provided a glimpse of his upside. More importantly, Dodgers brass believe Sheehan’s mix of velocity and deception can stabilize the back end of the rotation until Kershaw and Yamamoto are fully back.
The team’s willingness to skip a minor league rehab tour for Ohtani speaks volumes about their urgency. Now, the Dodgers are hoping to rely on Sheehan to make that leap from rehab to the majors without missing a beat. It’s a risky move, but it could pay off big if his strikeout-heavy form translates to MLB hitters. If they round into form, the Dodgers could just weather the storm and stay firmly in the World Series hunt.
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