Two-way star Shohei Ohtani did not play in either of LA’s first two Spring Training games, and he was again absent from the lineup on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. The 2024 National League MVP served exclusively as LA’s designated hitter last season, but has been throwing bullpens in preparation for a return to the mound.
Last pitching in an MLB game on Aug. 23 for the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani’s recovery from another UCL surgery has been well-documented.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17)
© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
As Ohtani continues his rehab as a pitcher, the Japanese phenom is expected to make his Spring Training debut as a hitter very soon. Speaking with reporters on Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Ohtani will join LA’s lineup as a designated hitter by the end of next week.
“NEW,” Olivia Garvey of NBC Los Angeles wrote on X. “Dave Roberts says Ohtani will make his ST debut as DH by the end of next week.”
Who do the Dodgers play at the end of next week? Ohtani’s old club, the Angels. Scheduled for a Spring Training date against their interleague rivals, the Dodgers will host the Angels on Friday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
Based on Roberts’ announcement, it seems Ohtani could be in the lineup against the team he played his first six MLB seasons with. In his time with the Angels, Ohtani won two MVP awards while posting a 149 OPS+ as a hitter and 142 ERA+ as a pitcher.
