Reigning American League MVP and baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani is off to a great start in his first spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Ohtani hit 10 home runs and struck out 21 from the Dodgers’ practice field in his first batting practice with his new team on Tuesday.
Notably, this session also marked his long-awaited return to the field after missing the final month of the 2023 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right (throwing) elbow that required surgery.
Monday’s batting practice was a big step in the right direction for the Japanese star, who hopes to be ready by March 20, when the Dodgers start the season.
Shohei Ohtani isn’t wasting any time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani took part in batting practice with his new team in Glendale, Ariz., on Monday and immediately shined, just a few months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right elbow.
The 29-year-old is preparing for the Dodgers’ season opener against the San Diego Padres on March 20 in South Korea.
Ohtani said earlier this month that he felt like he was “already swinging close to 100 percent,” which his performance Monday appeared to back up.
The Dodgers plan to have him bat third in their lineup behind Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
2023 SEASON
132 IP, 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 167 K, and 55 BB
Ohtani hit .274 in his career with the Angels and had a league-high OPS of 1.066 that season. The Dodgers added two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani this offseason, creating a buzz that Los Angeles hasn’t heard in a long time.
Ohtani took his first batting practice as a member of the Dodgers, and it went about as well as you’d expect. He hit 10 homers in 21 swings, a sign that his elbow is on the mend.
Second round of BP. Same result for #Dodgers Shohei Ohtani. This cleared the fence by a mile. pic.twitter.com/RVXorGybWJ
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) February 12, 2024
Ohtani took batting practice on the field at Camelback Ranch for the first time since undergoing second surgery on his right elbow that cut short his 2023 season, said translator Ippei Mizuhara.
Wow, Shohei. 😳 pic.twitter.com/ifYb2cHVzY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 12, 2024
Ohtani’s mastery of every swing earned him the respect of his teammates and general managers. Watkins exemplifies the true hitter. In the first round, Ohtani easily cleared the right field fence on his second swing.
In all, the two-time American League MVP took two rounds of batting practice. He hit 10 home runs in 21 total at bats.
“But I think he has a really good swing and that’s a really good sign.”
In addition to the elbow problem, Ohtani suffered a left groin injury that sidelined him for the final month of the season.
Taking the field Monday was a sign that Ohtani has overcome that injury, an encouraging sign in his development.
“I think I got over a bad injury.”
The next step in Ohtani’s recovery is still unclear, but he has said multiple times that it’s on the schedule for Opening Day.
The Dodgers are scheduled to begin batting practice on the 28th, but Ohtani is unlikely to play in the next few days.
When asked if he hits the field every day, Ohtani said, “Not every day, but I hit it more often than not.”
After the ball landed in the bushes, Dodgers manager Robert Van Scoyoc asked Ohtani if it was caught on the field.
“He’s moving well. He’s moving fast.”
Batting practice with Shohei. pic.twitter.com/4mvS0I7Dkr
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 12, 2024
Video of the two-time American League MVP’s first game with the Los Angeles Dodgers has gone viral and some fans are excited to see it. What they saw, they lost their minds.
As if the Los Angeles Dodgers fans weren’t excited enough, Shohei Ohtani put on a show during his first batting practice with his new club.
Not only is it an impressive display from the two-way superstar, but it also left fans and analysts with a number of talking points.
The two-way sensation reportedly only took 21 swings during his first batting practice, with 10 of those swings resulting in home runs.
During his viral display at the plate, Ohtani looked as if he did not lose any of his home run power, clocking in an impressive 109 mph max exit velocity.
There were many questions about Shohei Ohtani as he approached his first batting practice, with one of the main ones revolving around how he looked following the elbow surgery he underwent late last season.
It’s safe to say that if Shohei Ohtani avoids re-injuring his elbow, he’ll be in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to open the season on March 20 against the San Diego Padres, and Ohtani is ready for that game.
It may seem obvious, but the way Ohtani held up in his first at-bat, it’s going to be a long season for opposing hitters.
Shohei finished last season with a .304 average with 44 home runs and 95 RBI against the weak Los Angeles Angels.
A few months later, the two-time MVP player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history was signed by the Dodgers to the best contract in North American sports history.
Ohtani’s new contract is for 10 years and is worth $700 million. Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December after spending his first six MLB seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
The two-year MVP underwent surgery in September to repair a torn UCL in his elbow.
Fans had this to say.
Solid pickup for a guy only making $2 million
— Eric Cruz (@EricInFresno) February 12, 2024
This is your PORSCHE AMBASSADOR!!
— Brian Ramsay (@BrianBernstein8) February 12, 2024
Gotta love the sounds of baseball.
— DICK'S Sporting Goods (@DICKS) February 12, 2024
hes gonna break bonds' record
— JC (@jcwrld05) February 12, 2024
Ayo did they kill the camera man with that last throw?
— Miguel Lozada (@MLozada) February 12, 2024
Dodgers admin already posting more Shohei Ohtani content than Angels admin 🦄
— Eddie-Capital (@eddiejedi) February 12, 2024
This is the craziest angle–it looks like he's launching rockets. The typical broadcast angles don't enable you to appreciate a world class hitter in this way.
— K M (@BayesianNuance) February 12, 2024
https://twitter.com/codybelli/status/1757134521290633316
Unreal the Angels didn't trade him before the deadline.
— Jared Sichel (@thejaredsichel) February 13, 2024
they aint playing fair @ksorrells12
— b l a k b l e a c h (@blakbleach) February 12, 2024
he’s really on the team man wow
— 𐌕𐌄𐌄🤞🏼 (@HimmyCarter_) February 12, 2024
The league is cooked 🙃
— Spectators Media (@SpectatorsMedia) February 12, 2024
He looks ready
— Tommy (@tm1515152005) February 13, 2024
He's going to drop 60+ this season
— Mason Hall (@LoadedBasesPod) February 12, 2024
I prayed for times like this.
— Rami Hanna (@WhoElseButRami) February 12, 2024
Blue Jay blue would look way better on him 👀
— Sleeper (@LucasSleep) February 13, 2024
These three will do quite the damage this season https://t.co/YVZmpeY3KP
— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) February 12, 2024
Nice work,🌟 Shohei Othani
— Sohail Sam (@MSohailSam65086) February 12, 2024
He hit a lot of pop ups for 800 million..
— 🤘🏼SPIN🤘🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JoeyC___) February 12, 2024
I didn't realize he had fully recovered from that injury that sidelined him last season, but if he's in the starting lineup on opening day Dodgers fans are going to be on fire for this team
— Sylvan De La Cruz (@SylvanDeLaCruz) February 12, 2024
Longest HR of 2023? : 2-way Ohtani's 493 ft 🦄
Highest HR in Statcast ERA? : 2-way Ohtani's 162 ft 🦄pic.twitter.com/Kjt1a2X2p2pic.twitter.com/mm5JPpdSt9 pic.twitter.com/d2xFJd0rMm— shome4ever (@jJ45KSUQ3D128Xc) February 12, 2024
