Shohei Ohtani is back to full-time two-way duties with the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his return to pitching and hitting simultaneously for the first time in his decorated career.

Pitching Debut Performance

Ohtani showcased his pitching prowess on Tuesday with a scoreless six-inning outing, allowing only one hit and recording six strikeouts despite drizzling rain. He aims to consistently perform as a pitcher throughout the entire campaign.

Addressing Previous Concerns

A key question surrounding Ohtani entering the season was whether his pitching would negatively affect his hitting. Last year, following Tommy John surgery, his batting average dipped to .222 with four home runs in 14 pitching starts. The day after those starts, his average fell to .147 with only two home runs.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the issue, stating after a poor hitting performance in last year’s playoff start, “It hasn’t been good when he’s pitched. We’ve got to think through this, and come up with a better game plan.”

Despite the concerns, Ohtani consistently downplayed any physical connection between his pitching and hitting performance. He even delivered a historic three-homer game in the NLCS.

Tuesday's Performance and Future Plans

Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Roberts admitted he would closely monitor Ohtani’s at-bats. Ohtani grounded out in his first at-bat after pitching, but followed up with two walks and a single later in the game.

Positive Signs for Ohtani's Offense

“He’s taking walks, he’s swinging at the right pitches,” Roberts said after the game. “Those hits will start to come. But yeah, it was just a solid night.”

While Ohtani is currently slated to lead off on his pitching days, Roberts indicated the team may adjust this strategy based on Ohtani’s performance in the days following his starts. The team may also manipulate his pitching schedule to align with off days, as they did last year, to optimize his hitting performance.

Tuesday’s game served as a crucial test for Ohtani’s ability to balance his two-way responsibilities effectively.