- Ohtani signed an astonishing ten-year, $700 million deal with LA this offseason
- He underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career in September
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Shohei Ohtani is in line to make his debut for the LA Dodgers in spring training on Tuesday after successfully recovering from elbow surgery.
Ohtani, who signed an astonishing 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, underwent his second career Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in September.
Although he won’t pitch in the 2024 season, the 29-year-old is expected to make his spring training bow next Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox in Glendale, Arizona, when he will be the Dodgers’ designated hitter.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts closely observed Ohtani on Sunday when the latter faced live pitching from right-hander Jesse Hahn.
“He took three at-bats and looked good,” Roberts told reporters. “I thought today was a good day for Shohei.”
Shohei Ohtani is set to make his debut for the LA Dodgers during spring training on Tuesday
Ohtani, who signed an astonishing 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career in September.
Ohtani won two unanimous American League MVP awards during six seasons (2018-2023) with the Los Angeles Angels.
His jump to the Dodgers has led to many fans flocking to the club’s spring training complex.
Los Angeles is taking a cautious approach with Ohtani, who recently said he believes he will be ready when the Dodgers open the season against the San Diego Padres on March 20-21 in Seoul, South Korea.
Roberts said the organization feels no pressure to have the Japanese-born Ohtani ready to compete in the Seoul Series.
“I think the fact that he’s playing definitely adds to the attention of the series, of the games,” Roberts said. ‘But the most important thing is his health. So if it’s correct, great. And if not, we’ll go from there.”
Ohtani, 29, won his second AL MVP award this past season when he hit .304 with an AL-leading 44 home runs with 95 RBIs in 135 games with the Los Angeles Angels. He led the AL with a .412 on-base percentage and led the majors with a .654 slugging percentage.
The 29-year-old is expected to bow out of spring training against the White Sox on Tuesday
As a pitcher, Ohtani went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and recorded 167 strikeouts over 132 innings (23 starts). He limited opposing hitters to a .184 average.
Ohtani’s pitching efforts ended after he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on August 23. The three-time All-Star continued to play as a hitter until suffering an oblique injury on September 3.
Despite hitting 171 home runs and going 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA as a pitcher, Ohtani did not play a single playoff game during his six seasons in Anaheim.