Shohei Ohtani was clearly feeling the pressure in rocky (but brief) Dodgers pitching debut

The Dodgers put Shohei Ohtani on the mound for his LA pitching debut on Monday night in the first of a four-game set against the Padres, and it was momentous. The only two-way player in baseball hasn't actually been a two-way player in almost two years, and wasn't throughout the first season of his once-record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract.

But after widespread understanding that Ohtani wouldn't pitch in a major league game until after the All-Star break, there he was — on the mound a month before he'll inevitably have to head out to Atlanta to represent the Dodgers as the National League's starting designated hitter.

The excitement in the air at Dodger Stadium was palpable as Ohtani threw his first pitch to Padres' leadoff man Fernando Tatis Jr., a nearly 98 MPH sinker that Tatis fouled off. He eventually singled on a 99 MPH fastball that escaped the reach of a diving Andy Pages in center field, and by the end of the inning, he'd scored on a sac fly for Manny Machado.

It was far from the worst way things could've gone. Ohtani had both Tatis and Luis Arraez on the corners with no outs, but got away with only one run scored. The stuff was excellent when it was located; he threw almost 30 pitches, a couple over 100 MPH and the fastball with some remarkable movement, but it also looked a little like the pressure had gotten to one of the Dodgers' most unflappable players.

Shohei Ohtani gives up a run to Padres in Dodgers pitching debut, first start since August 2023

Ohtani only got the one inning before he was relieved by Anthony Banda in the second, which was about as much as fans could've expected. He progressed faster than anyone thought, but the Dodgers can't afford to push him more than is absolutely necessary. They still need him to hit.

Ohtani made it clear that everything that makes him great as a pitcher is just waiting to be fully unleashed. Even though the command wasn't fully there on Monday night, fans have to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. There was always going to be a lot riding this, and that kind of pressure would get to anyone — including Ohtani.

Now, he'll have the rest of the game to let his heart rate get back down to normal and focus on hitting, and the Dodgers will continue to extend him as a pitcher as the season goes on. Despite the one run scored, that familiar heat on that fastball and the pinpoint breaking balls were both on display. He might've been pulled a lot early than fans would've hoped, but there's no question that he's back.