Shohei Ohtani last took the mound in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform in Game 7 of the World Series in Canada against the Toronto Blue Jays. 

In 2 1/3 innings, he gave up three runs on five hits, walking two, and struck out three en route to the Dodgers securing back-to-back titles. 

In the present day, Ohtani is making the rounds in terms of pitching prep to be ready to go for a full season on the mound.

Wednesday afternoon marked the biggest step this spring as Ohtani took the mound for the first time in Cactus League play against the San Francisco Giants.

He hurled 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out four on 61 pitches.

Ohtani made quick work of the Giants in his first inning of work.

All he needed was five pitches to retire the side. He induced a groundout and two fly outs to Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, and Patrick Bailey. 

Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos led off the second inning with a double to left field, but that would be the lone hit surrendered by Ohtani. 

Ohtani struck out the next batter, Willy Adames, swinging on a 98.9 mph fastball, and would retire the next two batters for another zero on the board. 

His third inning of work was more of a hassle in terms of how his first two innings went.

He led off the third plunking Luis Matos on the elbow and later walked Lee to have runners on first and second and one out. Ohtani struck out Bailey looking on a 2-2 curveball for his second strikeout and induce a forceout to escape the inning.

He got back on track once he entered the fourth inning, striking out Ramos for his third strikeout and getting Jerar Encarnacion to ground into an inning-ending double play. 

With an efficient pitch-count for Ohtani after his fourth inning of work, manager Dave Roberts allowed Ohtani to face one more batter in the fifth. 

He would get Will Brennan to ground out to Miguel Rojas at second and thus completed his first spring outing on the mound. 

In his postgame presser following his start, Ohtani addressed what he took away from his start. 

“Actually didn’t feel like it was my first Spring Training outing. I do see this as more of an extension of a live BP situation. So, honestly, didn’t feel too bad heading into this game," Ohtani said through his interpreter. 

He will make one more scheduled start before Spring conclude. He will pitch in one of the two Freeway Series games against his old team, the Los Angeles Angels. 

When asked what he wanted to improve on for his next start, Ohtani said that he would like to see his efficiency on two-strike counts be better, but notes that his pitch count was in a good place. 

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