How Did Shohei Ohtani Do in Spring Training Pitching Debut for Dodgers? Dave Roberts Weighs In

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts discussed Shohei Ohtani's Spring Training pitching debut on Wednesday.

"The stuff was really good. It's going to get more crisp as he gets out there and gets regular pitching," Roberts said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "But, man, it was really good. He knows he only has a couple outings before the start of the season, so he was focused. To have him touch the fifth inning was a huge win for us."

Ohtani started against the San Francisco Giants, allowing just one hit without giving up a run in 4.1 innings of work. He also recorded four strikeouts to go along with two walks.

The four-time MVP was away from Los Angeles while playing for Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but joined the Dodgers again following Japan's elimination in the quarterfinals. Ohtani was strictly used as a designated hitter in the WBC.

The Dodgers will be cautious with his workload entering the 2026 season, as he hasn't put together a full year on the mound since 2022.

Ohtani's 2023 campaign was cut short due to an elbow injury that required surgery, which also prevented him from pitching in 2024.

He made just 14 regular-season starts last year, compiling a 1-1 record to go along with a 2.87 ERA and 1.043 WHIP. Ohtani also finished with 62 strikeouts compared to nine walks in 47 innings.

He's expected to get one more Spring Training start for the Dodgers before the 2026 regular season begins on March 26.