Shohei Ohtani, last season’s American League Most Valuable Player, won’t pitch throughout the 2024 Major League Baseball season. He is still recovering from the surgery required to cure the UCL tear in his right elbow.
However, he can still help the Los Angeles Dodgers as a designated hitter, wherein he’s equally dangerous. Last year, Ohtani slashed .304/.412/.654/1.066 in 135 games, all career highs. He led Major League Baseball in slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage. His on-base percentage led the American League.
But for anyone wondering if he’s healthy enough to hit, a video shared by MLB’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) should excite baseball fans, especially devoted Dodgers supporters.
Shohei took 21 swings and homered 10 times
— MLB (@MLB) February 12, 2024
(via @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/jcwYjc1Nm6
Ohtani took batting practice during the Dodgers’ Spring Training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. He sent 11 out of 20 balls out of the park, and he’s doing it 146 days after the surgery performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
The Dodgers started Spring Training earlier than most teams because they will open the season in South Korea. They will play a couple of games against the San Diego Padres on March 20 and 21, a week before the traditional Opening Day on March 28.
Shohei Ohtani joined the Dodgers after playing six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He signed a ten-year, $700 million deal, including $680 million in deferred payments once the contract ends. Last season, he played on a one-year, $30 million deal to avoid arbitration, an MLB record until Juan Soto signed a $30.1 million contract.
-Lance Fernandez