Ohtani, from Dodgers, prepares to return to the mound
Shohei Ohtani gets ready to be a bidirectional star again.
Glendale, Arizona – The Sweeper of Shohei Ohtani He made his first appearance of the year during the first official training of Los Angeles Dodgers In spring training on Wednesday.
It was in flat terrain, nor close to the maximum intensity, but it was the last sign that Ohtani’s return to launch – and, therefore, to a two -way role – approaches.
Ohtani will launch its first traditional Bullpen session at some point in this weekend, he said, at which time the preparation process will begin to join the rotation full of stars of the Dodgers in May, if not before.
When asked how juggling between hitting and launching again, Ohtani said he wanted to “play as much as possible, as many games as possible.”
“But if the team feels that I should take a break,” Ohtani added through an interpreter, “I will.”
Los Angeles Angels essentially let Ohtani dictate their calendar while hitting and launched from 2021 to 2023, racing the way for an unprecedented three -year streak consisting of two unanimous MVP awards and a second place. The Dodgers could finally give Ohtani a similar freedom, especially by allowing him to hit the days he throws. But they are being remarkably cautious at the beginning in the hope of making sure that possible in the final stretch.
It was not expected that Ohtani would launch in any game of the Cactus League, said the manager of the Dodgers, Dave Roberts, adding that he does not want to see him trying to steal bases during spring training. Given its importance for alignment, Dodgers will probably organize simulated games in April that will allow Ohtani to face batters in environments similar to those of a game without having to send it to a rehabilitation allocation. Once you join the rotation, Ohtani will be among the six openers, which will basically make it start once a week.
Roberts also anticipated that Ohtani would take more free days as a batter designated this year, and the general belief is that he would step back in his career after his 59 -theft season in 2024, but that was yet to be determined.
“We have not yet come to that as to what is comfortable, which makes him feel good,” Roberts said. “I am looking forward to having those conversations, but obviously it will be a bit more complex than last year.”
At this time, Ohtani has the mind to be the designated batter of the Dodgers when they open their season in their native Japan for a series of two games against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19. Ohtani said that his left shoulder surgically repaired, that he suffered a tear of the Labrum during the World Series, has been causing “some discomfort”, but that “it really is not weakening.”
“Only a limited movement range,” Ohtani added. “I have already gone through that with the elbow before, and with the shoulder it is a bit more complicated. I think that is the part in which I have to be patient.”
As a group, Dodgers don’t have much time for patience. They will open their season nine days before another 28 teams and are already working to prepare their pitchers for it. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, one of Japan’s most celebrated openers, is on the way to being the starter of the first game of the season at Tokyo Dome. Roki Sasaki, another Japanese AS held, is on the way to starting the second game, although the first Dodgers want to see how the 23 -year -old right pitcher is assimilated to his first experience in the United States.
“Having this opportunity to open the season in Japan with a major leagues is really special,” said Sasaki, the very promoted pitching phenomenon that chose to join the Dodgers last month. “I just want to make sure I am prepared for that.”
Sasaki was among the pitchers who launched Bullpen sessions at the Camelback Ranch backfields on Wednesday. Dozens of photographers, camera operators and reporters aligned on one side of the field; A large number of coaches and executives of the Dodgers, and Clayton Kershaw, who is still recovering from standing and knee surgeries in the low season, observed from behind.
Sasaki admitted that he felt “some nerves” and that his body “may not move in the way he expected.” But Austin Barnes, who crouched behind the plate, was impressed with the journey of his fast ball and the movement of his splitter.
“I had never really seen a release like that before,” said Barnes, the long -standing alternate receiver who faced Sasaki while playing for the Mexico team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. “It is different from Yamamoto. Well. It is sometimes difficult to catch it.
Sasaki’s first experience in the big leagues will begin without artificial limitations, although it combined only 210 entries with the Chiba Lotte Marines from 2023 to 2024. Dodgers believe that the rotation of six men will benefit Sasaki as much as it will help Ohtani in Their transition back to a two -way role, but their depth will allow them to incorporate additional rest to the first signs of fatigue.
Preserving Sasaki’s health is its most important task in year 1.
“I am sure that while he is healthy, he can play well,” Ohtani said. “The important thing is that you get used to the environment in which it is found.”
