For the first time since August 2023, Shohei Ohtani stepped onto the mound in a regular-season game. The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star, limited to just hitting for nearly two years while recovering from an elbow surgery, returned to pitching on Monday, doing so for the first time since signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the team.

There's no reason for Dodgers fans to fret. Ohtani was always expected to throw just an inning or two tonight as he slowly finds his rhythm again on the bump. Usually, when pitchers return from injuries, they throw a few rehab starts in the minor leagues. Of course, that's not possible for Ohtani, who is the best offensive player on his team, too.