Shohei Ohtani’s second pitching appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers was an eventful one. In his outing against the Washington Nationals, he managed a scoreless inning at Dodger Stadium. This performance marked his first two strikeouts as a Dodger, where he fanned Luis García Jr. and Nathaniel Lowe.

Ohtani’s pitching was marked by control, throwing 12 of his 18 pitches for strikes. This outing focused on careful recovery following his elbow surgery from September 2023, as the Dodgers are monitoring his pitch count closely. Unlike his previous start, where he reached 100 mph, Ohtani’s fastballs in this match were recorded below that mark - although still impressive at around 97 mph.

In a statement about Ohtani’s buildup as a starter, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed caution: “That’s kind of TBD… I think we’re always going to be cautious.”

Ohtani’s potential continues to be a hot topic as he performs dual roles in the team, both as a pitcher and a hitter, making him an invaluable asset in the MLB.