Shohei Ohtani’s pitching progression has taken a significant step forward as he delivered a standout performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 29, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. During his third pitching appearance, Ohtani showcased a career-high 101.7 mph fastball, signaling growth and potential in his ongoing comeback after surgery.
Ohtani’s Third Pitching Appearance Brings Encouraging Results
After his first two brief pitching starts, where he only threw one inning each, Shohei Ohtani extended his outing with the Dodgers by pitching two scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals. In the process, he threw 27 pitches, 20 of which were strikes, demonstrating improved control and command on the mound. The highlight was an explosive 101.7 mph fastball fired at Royals batter Vinnie Pasquantino, marking the fastest pitch of Ohtani’s Major League Baseball career so far.
Despite the Dodgers’ 9-5 loss in the game, Ohtani’s pitching performance offered a bright spot. His ability to reach triple-digit velocity so soon into his return after Tommy John surgery shows promising development. However, the Dodgers remain cautious in managing his workload carefully, recognizing that a slow and patient rebuild is essential to ensure he can sustain such performances throughout the season.
Team Strategy Focuses on Gradual Reintegration
ESPN analyst Buster Olney has noted the Dodgers’ long-term approach to Ohtani’s reintegration, emphasizing a deliberate ramp-up in innings and pitch counts. Olney explained,
“It’s going to be slow. It’s a slow build-up, right? You think of him, it’s almost as if it’s the end of February and spring training, and each outing he’s going to add a little bit more, and he’s pitching once every six days. So his next outing, maybe he gets up to thirty-five pitches, maybe forty, maybe he gets up to three innings.”
Olney also highlighted the Dodgers’ priority of having Ohtani fully ready by the crucial stretch of late August through October, adding,
“The most important thing for the Dodgers is that by the time they get to late August, September, October — that’s when they want Ohtani fully built up. Is Dave Roberts said to me, it’s house money if they can get by without Ohtani pitching at all, because of course, he doesn’t count against their quota of 13 pitchers on the roster.”
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, echoed this patient philosophy while acknowledging the significance of Ohtani’s latest outing. He stated,
“Getting Shohei through two innings, throwing the ball the way he did, is certainly a positive.”
Roberts admitted he was unaware the fastball had reached 102 mph, saying,
“I just saw 100, so no, I didn’t expect that. Now I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that he feels good coming out of today.”
The Dodgers’ cautious approach underlines their desire to protect their two-way star’s health while preparing him to contribute effectively in the season’s latter stages. His presence both as a pitcher and hitter remains invaluable, forcing the team to balance his workload with careful precision.
Shohei Ohtani’s Own Perspective on His Recovery and Improvement
Shohei Ohtani spoke candidly about his pitching comeback, recognizing the progress he has made without the benefit of minor league rehab starts. He noted the challenge of reaching such velocity in live game settings, especially without going through a typical rehab assignment, saying,
“It’s something that I don’t think I would have been able to do in a live BP setting, so it’s nice to be able to hit this velo and see how my body reacts.”
Regarding his recovery, Ohtani compared this round of rehabilitation favorably to his previous experience, explaining,
“I felt pretty good about being able to come back and pitch well, especially considering when I first had the surgery — the second time through was a lot better in terms of recovery than the first time through. Just talking to the doctor, he was very confident that I was able to come back at full form.”
Because the Dodgers could not afford to lose Ohtani’s bat in the lineup, minor league pitching starts were never an option. Instead, he has relied on live batting practice sessions to monitor his strength and velocity build. The step up to a 101.7 mph fastball from a previous peak of around 97 mph at Citi Field’s BP sessions indicates a steady and encouraging increase in power.
Moving forward, the Dodgers hope Ohtani will maintain his health and continue to build consistency on the mound, as his pitching development could become a key factor in turning around their season.
Importance of Ohtani’s Progress for the Dodgers’ Season
Shohei Ohtani’s evolving pitching skill set arrives at a critical juncture for the Dodgers, whose rotation has faced challenges and inconsistencies this season. His ability to pitch multiple innings with increasing velocity offers the team an opportunity to strengthen their pitching staff without sacrificing Ohtani’s dual-threat capability as a top hitter.
If he continues to build on this safe, measured progression, Ohtani could not only bolster the Dodgers’ rotation but also serve as a decisive difference-maker when playoff contention heats up. The management’s focus on a cautious timetable, emphasizing health over immediate impact, aims to maximize his availability and performance in the most crucial late-season months.
With all eyes on Ohtani’s next outings, the Dodgers and their fans await to see if this remarkable comeback trajectory will culminate in the dominant pitching presence the team had hoped for when acquiring the two-way star.