Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is coming back to the mound on Monday against the San Diego Padres, marking his first pitching start since 2023.

The day that the Dodgers have been waiting for since they signed Shohei Ohtani to a then-record contract is nearly here: Ohtani's first start as a pitcher in a Dodgers uniform is set for Monday night against the Padres.

Shoehi Ohtani’s debut wasn’t perfect, but it also could have gone a lot worse. After not pitching in nearly two years, the Japanese right-hander clearly showed signs of rust and lack of command in his first big league action of the season.