Shohei Ohtani ‘very confident’ he will be ready to make his Dodgers debut on the opening day of the new season… despite undergoing the second elbow op of his career after signing record $700m deal in LA
- Ohtani signed with the Dodgers this offseason for 10 years and $700 million
- He won’t be able to pitch and will be the team’s designated hitter this season
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Shohei Ohtani insists he is “confident” he will be ready in time for the first game of the new season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, despite recently undergoing further surgery on his elbow.
Ohtani is gearing up for his first season with the Dodgers after signing a massive 10-year deal worth $700 million in LA in December after leaving city rivals the Angels when his contract expired.
The Dodgers and their top recruit open their season on March 20 against the San Diego Padres, although after recently undergoing the second Tommy John (elbow) surgery of his career, it was unclear whether Ohtani would be ready in time.
Although he is only expected to hit for now, the two-way sensation is expected to be ready for the opener against the Padres.
“Rehab is going really well,” Ohtani said. ‘I am confident that we are exactly on schedule. We are neither ahead nor behind.’
Shohei Ohtani is ‘very confident’ he will be ready for the Dodgers’ first game of the new season
Ohtani is still recovering from the second Tommy John surgery of his career and will not pitch
Dodgers fans got their first look at Ohtani in person during the team’s Dodgerfest
Once Ohtani heads to spring training in Arizona this month, he will continue to take cuts against a pitching machine.
Last season he slashed .304/.412/.654 for 44 home runs, 95 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 135 games before being sidelined due to injury.
The Dodgers made the biggest move of the offseason when they signed Ohtani to a whopping deal worth $70 million per year this summer, despite the fact that he would spend the offseason rehabbing elbow surgery.
“The way we talk about Babe Ruth,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman, “that’s who Shohei is.”
Dodgers fans also got their first in-person glimpse of their modern-day Babe Ruth in the team’s colors on Saturday.
And Dodgers fans embraced him with shouts. Men, women and children donned his new jersey at “DodgerFest,” where for the first time fans had to pay $10 per person to enter.
The concession stands were open, the music was blaring, the team store was packed with shoppers and fans crowded the field to get close to the stage where manager Dave Roberts and about 30 players discussed the 2024 season.