Los Angeles Angels' three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani is set to make his first spring training appearance of the year on Friday night against his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 30-year-old Ohtani will be taking on the role of designated hitter for this game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not provided a specific timeline for Ohtani's return to pitching but expressed optimism that it would be sooner rather than later. However, Ohtani has been ruled out for the opening series in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19.
Ohtani sustained a left shoulder injury during the World Series while sliding into second base, which led to him missing the entire pitching season last year. He underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his throwing elbow during that time.
Despite not pitching, Ohtani had an exceptional season as a batter, hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases. His remarkable performance earned him his third unanimous MVP award, making him the first player to join the major league's 50/50 club.
On the pitching front, Ohtani boasts a career record of 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA. In 2023, before his injury in August, he held a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA.
Baseball fans are eagerly anticipating Ohtani's return to the field and are looking forward to witnessing his exceptional skills both as a batter and a pitcher.
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