LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani, rehabbing from elbow surgical procedure as a pitcher whereas additionally making ready as a hitter, says he’s “very assured” he shall be able to function the Dodgers’ designated hitter once they open their season in South Korea on March 20.
His supervisor, Dave Roberts, is aware of the place he’ll hit too.
Roberts sat on a makeshift stage atop the center-field grass at Dodger Stadium on Saturday and revealed the primary three spots of his star-studded lineup to those that attended the staff’s Fan Fest occasion, asserting that Mookie Betts would lead off, Freddie Freeman would bat second, and Ohtani would hit third. It triggered a loud roar from a crowd of about 35,000 individuals, lots of whom sported new Ohtani jerseys and T-shirts to commemorate the Dodgers’ $700 million acquisition.
“The Dodgers, Los Angeles, goes to be the epicenter of sports activities and baseball,” Roberts stated, alluding to an offseason during which his staff allotted about $1.2 billion on Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Teoscar Hernandez and James Paxton on the heels of a 100-win season.
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“It is nice for our recreation, it is nice for town, and it raises the bar for all of us.”
Ohtani, who underwent one thing intently resembling his second Tommy John surgical procedure on Sept. 19, has been taking flips — hitting baseballs after somebody tosses them underhand from a detailed distance — and hitting off a tee. He’ll begin hitting velocity shortly after he stories to the staff’s spring coaching advanced in Glendale, Arizona, subsequent week.
His throwing program remains to be principally undetermined, however he stated he’s “proper on schedule” along with his hitting development and appears assured he’ll play in a extremely anticipated two-game collection towards the division rival San Diego Padres in South Korea, a nation already clamoring for an up-close take a look at Ohtani.
“Rehab’s been going rather well,” Ohtani stated by interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “Simply as deliberate to date. So long as I am prepared by March 20, then I feel I will be taking part in all through the entire yr.”
Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux, who missed the complete 2023 season after tearing an ACL in spring coaching, additionally expects to be prepared by the beginning of the season. So does high-leverage reliever Blake Treinen, who has been restricted to 5 appearances over the previous two years due to shoulder points; he expects to have a “regular” spring coaching.
Walker Buehler, coming off his second Tommy John surgical procedure, will navigate the 2024 season with an innings restrict and can begin a bit of late as a way to keep inside that mark with out having to be shut down in-season.
The Dodgers’ rotation has been utterly remade this offseason, though Ohtani will not pitch till 2025. Yamamoto, Glasnow and Paxton joined the incumbent Buehler and Bobby Miller, with the likes of Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone and Michael Grove able to step in. Dustin Might, recovering from flexor tendon surgical procedure, will also be an choice in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the season.
However the Dodgers are nonetheless hopeful of bringing again Clayton Kershaw, who underwent shoulder surgical procedure in early November and is not anticipated again till round midseason on the earliest. Kershaw is broadly anticipated to finally signal a two-year contract with both the Dodgers or his hometown Texas Rangers.
“We proceed to remain in contact with Clayton,” Dodgers common supervisor Brandon Gomes stated, “and we’ll progress.”