It wasn’t a perfect performance by Shohei Ohtani. But Monday night’s long-awaited return to the mound marked a resounding success for Ohtani and the Dodgers nonetheless.

It had been 663 days between pitching appearances, depriving baseball fans of the famed wicked four-seam fastball and splitter that they have marveled at from the sport’s most unique player.

Ohtani made his long-awaited Dodgers pitching debut last night against the San Diego Padres, going one inning with one earned run allowed on two hits, zero strikeouts, and zero walks.