The Dodgers have confirmed that Shohei Ohtani, their $700 million acquisition, will make his debut with the team in Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox in the Cactus League at Camelback Ranch. Ohtani is slated to start as the designated hitter (DH).
Due to his recent elbow surgery, Ohtani is expected to have limited playing time, likely only taking two at-bats in the game. This game marks his return to action just over five months after undergoing his second reconstructive elbow procedure, ruling him out from pitching until 2025.
Despite his injury, the reigning American League MVP has been steadily progressing in his hitting regimen. From hitting ‘flips’ and off a tee about 3 1/2 weeks ago, Ohtani has advanced to facing live pitching in batting practice sessions over the past week, including at-bats against pitchers like Joe Kelly and Jesse Hahn on Sunday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed satisfaction with Ohtani’s performance, stating, “He looked good. I thought today was a good day for Shohei.”
Ohtani aims to accumulate 50 at-bats to prepare for the upcoming regular season games in Korea on March 20-21. He believes he has sufficient time to achieve this milestone through Cactus League play, live batting practice, or hitting sessions with a high-tech pitching machine at Camelback Ranch.
Reflecting on his recovery progress, Ohtani remarked, “I don’t feel like it’s ahead of schedule. I feel like we’re right on schedule, which is a perfect thing.” He credits his previous experience rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery in 2018 for his preparedness this time around.
While Tuesday’s game is expected to be a sell-out, tickets are currently available through the Dodgers’ website.
