Dodgers’ $700million man Shohei Ohtani goes DEEP in hitting practice following off-season elbow surgery to increase optimism he’ll be ready for LA’s March 20 debut in South Korea
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Sunday that Ohtani won’t play in the Dodgers’ Cactus League start Thursday against San Diego. Roberts, though, has been pleased by Ohtani’s progress physically. ‘He’s a lot further advanced than I think any of us maybe not named Shohei would have thought,’ Roberts remarked on Saturday. ‘He’s worked incredibly hard, very dedicated in his work, so he’s ahead of schedule.
‘What it signifies as far as when he’s going to play in a Cactus League game, I don’t know that answer. But it just seems like every single day, he keeps better and feels real terrific.’ The two-time AL MVP won’t pitch this season following right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, but wants to be ready as a hitter by the March 20 opening against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea.
Ohtani, 29, batted .304 in 135 games last season and topped the AL in homers (44), on-base percentage (.412), slugging percentage (.654), OPS (1.066) and total bases (325) while collecting his second MVP title. He also was voted MVP in 2021 and ended second in 2022.
Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers after spending his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. However, much of that contract is postponed until 2034 and later, meaning Ohtani’s base pay in 2024 is barely $2 million.
All signs point to the Dodgers having a stellar offensive lineup. Los Angeles may start a lineup that includes fellow All-Stars like Betts, Freeman, Max Muncy and Will Smith. Ohtani says he’s ready to contribute. ‘My swing effort level-wise is approaching 100 percent,’ Ohtani said prior to Monday’s batting practice session.
Ohtani’s first year of his 10-year contract is one among the many storylines for the big-spending Dodgers, who committed more than $1 billion to free agents. The Ohtani deal was considerably bigger than many thought and then days later, Los Angeles secured right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a $325 million, 12-year agreement.
Roberts said he’s talked to Ohtani a few times already in Arizona, but is trying to give him room while he adapts to new surroundings. ‘Everything he does is intentional, which is fairly astonishing, but not surprising,’ Roberts said. ‘I think right now, you see a lot of colleagues trying to see how he operates, learn what makes him tick, but it takes time. ‘But I’ve still got to pinch myself to see him in a Dodger uniform.’
Roberts said the Dodgers are embracing the organization’s new role as the sport’s version of Taylor Swift. The manager harkened back to his days as a player with the San Francisco Giants in 2007, when teammate Barry Bonds was chasing the all-time career home run record, and the media was a continuous presence in the clubhouse.
‘It’s hard to dismiss who he is as a ballplayer, the contract,’ Roberts said. ‘But he wants nothing more than to win, and to win as a Dodger. That’s why he opted to come here. I can speak for everyone in the organization – we could’t be more excited.’ Also on Friday, the Dodgers revealed their one-year deal with left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who returns for his 17th season. The deal includes a player option for 2025.
The three-time Cy Young champion had surgery November 3 to repair his left shoulder capsule and glenohumeral ligaments, which support the joint capsule. He expects to be available to pitch this summer. If he decides to return in 2025, he might join Ohtani in the starting rotation. To create room for Kershaw on the roster, right-hander Tony Gonsolin was placed on the 60-day disabled list while recovering from Tommy John surgery.