Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani makes long-awaited return to the mound after elbow surgery

Shohei Ohtani gave up a pair of two-strike hits and a run in his Dodgers pitching debut against the Padres on Monday night, 21 months after the two-way superstar had elbow surgery.

Shohei Ohtani gave up a pair of two-strike hits and a run in his Los Angeles Dodgers pitching debut against the San Diego Padres on Monday night, 21 months after the two-way superstar had elbow surgery.

Ohtani threw 28 pitches — 16 for strikes — in the first inning as fans hung on every one of them. They oohed when a fastball was clocked at 100.2 mph — the second-hardest pitch thrown by a Dodgers hurler this season.

Ohtani appeared to be laboring on the mound, his face sweaty. He warmed up to his usual music, Michael Bublé’s version of “Feeling Good.”

After retiring Xander Bogaerts on a grounder for the third out, Ohtani walked over to an umpire who checked his hands and glove. He didn’t enter the dugout. Instead, he put on his batting gloves and other equipment near the railing and walked to the on-deck circle to prepare to lead off the bottom of the inning.

Ohtani struck out swinging against Padres starter Dylan Cease, but then tied the score at 1 with an RBI double to left-center in the third.