PHOENIX — In his first batting apply session of spring coaching on Wednesday, it took simply 4 swings for Shohei Ohtani to seem like himself.
Barely three months faraway from the left shoulder surgical procedure he underwent this offseason to restore the torn labrum he suffered in final yr’s World Collection, Ohtani arrived at camp this week in one thing of rehab mode. He’s nonetheless working to regain full vary of movement in his shoulder, hopeful he’ll be able to DH by opening day. He nonetheless has many containers to verify on the mound, too, as he goals to renew full-time two-way duties this season after being unable to pitch in 2024 whereas recovering from a Tommy John revision surgical procedure.
However at the same time as he works his method again to 100%, Ohtani reminded tons of of awestruck followers on the workforce’s Camelback Ranch facility Wednesday of his prodigious energy.
After three lazy pop-ups to start his BP session, Ohtani walloped an extended house run to proper subject, so deep a coach shagging fly balls merely turned and watched it sail over the fence. Within the 13 swings that adopted, Ohtani launched 9 extra balls out of the park.
“I feel pretty good,” Ohtani stated by means of interpreter Will Ireton afterward. “Almost getting there, to where I want it to be.”
The Dodgers are hopeful that the actual problem for Ohtani this yr received’t be about his well being, however moderately his technique of re-acclimating to the two-way position that made him a celebrity early in his MLB profession with the Angels.
And already, they’re brainstorming methods for the three-time MVP to steadiness his workload on the mound and on the plate in 2025 — with Ohtani presently on monitor to renew pitching within the massive leagues by Could, if not sooner.
“He’s excited to pitch,” supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters. “I’m as excited and curious as you guys are [to watch him].”
Ohtani’s return to the mound may include some trade-offs offensively. Roberts stated he doesn’t count on Ohtani to steal as many bases as he did final yr, when the 30-year-old swiped 59 baggage whereas authoring MLB’s first-ever 50-homer, 50-steal season. Roberts stated he may look to present Ohtani extra days off as a DH as properly, making it unlikely Ohtani will match his complete of 159 video games performed final yr.
“We haven’t got there yet as far as what he’s comfortable with, what he feels good about,” Roberts stated, noting any such plans are solely tentative for now as Ohtani continues his preseason ramp-up. “I’m looking forward to those conversations, but it’s obviously going to be a little more complex than it was last year.”
Ohtani stated he does “want to play as much as possible” this yr, however added that, “if the team feels like I should get a break, I’ll follow that.”
Within the shorter time period, Roberts stated Ohtani isn’t anticipated to pitch in any Cactus League video games throughout the spring. Ohtani has but to even start throwing bullpen classes, although he stated that might occur as quickly as this weekend. To this point, Ohtani has solely accomplished flat-ground throwing classes.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani throws on a apply subject at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday.
(Ross D. Franklin / Related Press)
“I’m very satisfied overall with my throwing,” Ohtani stated.
Come the beginning of the common season, the Dodgers aren’t planning to ship Ohtani on a minor league rehab task to maintain constructing, both — one thing that might be normal for pitchers getting back from Tommy John. As a substitute, Ohtani will in all probability full his pitching rehab in simulated video games with a purpose to stay accessible as a hitter on the massive league roster.
As soon as Ohtani is again to his two-way routine, nevertheless, the workforce’s hope is that every other problems concerning his utilization in 2025 will handle themselves.
The workforce’s plan to make use of a six-man rotation ought to assist restrict Ohtani’s innings and forestall the necessity for him to take any midseason break over workload considerations. Membership officers have additionally downplayed the impression his labrum surgical procedure may pose on his swing, noting that the process was to his again shoulder — moderately than the lead proper shoulder that generates a lot of his energy.
“I do feel like there’s some discomfort that I have to still overcome, [but] it’s not really debilitating,” Ohtani stated. “Just a limited range of motion. I’ve gone through it with the elbow before. With the shoulder, it’s a little bit more complicated. I do believe that’s the part that I have to be patient with.”
Barring any unexpected setbacks, Ohtani won’t need to be affected person for much longer. He stated Wednesday he seems like he’s on schedule to be able to hit by opening day. His return to pitching ought to come quickly after.
“He’s worked really hard, looks really strong and the throwing program hasn’t wavered,” Roberts stated final week; an evaluation Ohtani backed up with Wednesday’s dazzling batting apply show. “You just wouldn’t think that there was any surgery this past winter.”
Phillips, Kopech questionable for opening day
Come opening day, two of the Dodgers’ finest aid arms from final season may start the season on the injured record.
In line with Roberts, Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech got here into camp “a little bit behind schedule” of their throwing progressions after coping with accidents this offseason.
Kopech handled some forearm irritation final month. Phillips, in the meantime, didn’t start his offseason throwing program till January — a couple of month later than normal — whereas recovering from a tear at the back of his rotator cuff that he suffered throughout the playoffs final October.
Phillips sustained his damage within the Nationwide League Championship Collection, saying Wednesday that his shoulder began to hassle him following a 34-pitch outing in Recreation 4 of that collection.
Whereas Phillips managed to pitch once more in Recreation 6, he was left off the Dodgers’ World Collection roster after an MRI examination revealed a tear in his shoulder muscular tissues.
