Exactly 663 days since he last pitched in a Major League game, the Dodgers superstar returned to the mound on Monday night—and quickly unleashed some eye-popping stuff.

The day that the Dodgers have been waiting for since they signed Shohei Ohtani to a then-record contract is nearly here: Ohtani's first start as a pitcher in a Dodgers uniform is set for Monday night against the Padres.

The former Japanese interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani has surrendered to a federal prison in Pennsylvania, beginning a nearly five-year prison sentence for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player.

Shohei Ohtani (the pitcher) is back, while Shohei Ohtani (the hitter) continues to rake. Ohtani last pitched in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Between starts, all he did was hit 54 home runs,

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani lead the American League and the National League, respectively, with the most All-Star votes so far.

One aspect that works in the Dodgers' favor here: Ohtani's two-way player status. He doesn't count against Los Angeles' 13-pitcher roster limit, meaning that the Dodgers will be able to navigate his truncated appearances with a full support staff.

Even as the Dodgers are getting back Shohei Ohtani on the mound,  the banged-up Los Angeles pitching staff suffered another blow. The Dodgers announced Ohtani will start on Monday night against the Padres,

It had been some time since Shohei Ohtani had left the yard, so he made up for lost time on Saturday night. Ohtani hit a pair of home runs -- including the 250th of his career -- to back a vintage performance from Clayton Kershaw,