Los Angeles Dodgers fans are eagerly anticipating Shohei Ohtani’s long-awaited return to the mound. The two-way superstar is set to make his pitching debut for the Dodgers on Monday night in the series opener against the San Diego Padres — a moment that has triggered a sharp spike in ticket prices.
Following the official announcement, ticket demand soared. Prices for Monday’s game jumped by 174%, with the get-in price rising from $51 on Friday to $140, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale. The ticket platform TickPick reported that sales tripled after the Dodgers confirmed Ohtani would start on the mound.
“It was announced yesterday that Shohei would make his long-awaited pitching debut for the Dodgers tonight,” TickPick shared in a statement on X. “Since the announcement, we have sold three times the amount of tickets we had prior. The get-in price has also increased from $51 to $134.”
Ohtani last pitched in August 2023 when he was still with the Los Angeles Angels. He underwent surgery a month later to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and joined the Dodgers in the offseason.
During the 2024 season, Ohtani served exclusively as the team’s designated hitter. He delivered one of the most dominant offensive performances in MLB history, setting career highs in nearly every major category — including home runs, hits, runs scored, RBIs, doubles, and stolen bases.
He made history by creating the exclusive “50 home runs, 50 stolen bases” club, finishing the season with 54 homers and 59 steals. Ohtani also won his first World Series title during the Dodgers’ postseason run and was unanimously named National League Most Valuable Player — becoming the first designated hitter to earn the honor.
With that win, Ohtani also became the first player in MLB history to unanimously secure three MVP awards.
Now in 2025, the 29-year-old is set to resume his two-way role. Although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani will pitch only one inning Monday night, anticipation is high.
Ohtani is not yet fully built up to handle a regular pitching workload, and the Dodgers have emphasized caution as they manage his return. Still, his presence on the mound marks a significant milestone — and possibly the start of a new chapter in Dodgers history.
