Shohei Ohtani delivered an impressive spring training pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, tossing 4⅓ scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants. The two-way superstar allowed just one hit while striking out four over 61 pitches, touching 99 mph on his fastball. Ohtani's performance marked his first competitive mound appearance since Game 7 of the World Series last November, showing promising form after limited pitching action over the past 2½ years.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani's command and velocity, noting the Japanese star's ability to reach the fifth inning was significant. Ohtani specifically mentioned needing better execution on two-strike counts for his next outing. The 31-year-old appears on track to build upon his 2025 postseason performance, where he went 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA while helping Los Angeles win their second consecutive championship.

Ohtani will likely make one more preseason start before the regular season begins March 26, with Roberts planning to use him as the designated hitter on Friday against the Padres. The Dodgers are counting on Ohtani to complete his first full season on the mound since 2022, when he posted a 15-9 record with a 2.33 ERA. His return to full health provides a major boost to Los Angeles' pitching depth as they defend their title.