The Los Angeles Dodgers open their Cactus League schedule on Thursday afternoon and although Shohei Ohtani will not be in the lineup, he continues to make progress in his recovery from last year’s right elbow surgery and right oblique irritation.
The two-way star arrived at Camelback Ranch ahead of the report date for Dodgers position players, and during his time in camp steadily advanced from taking swings against a pitching machine to hitting on the field. He participated in multiple rounds of batting practice before stepping into the batter’s box to face live pitching.
That drew plenty of attention and Ohtani electrified fans and team personnel in attendance by hitting a booming home run off J.P. Feyereisen.
Ohtani took part in more live batting practice on Wednesday, facing Daniel Hudson and Ryan Yarbrough, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group and David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports Radio:
More live BP ABs for #Dodgers Shohei Ohtani today pic.twitter.com/KByqT7OSoX
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 21, 2024
Ohtani taking AB’s against Daniel Hudson. #Dodgers #Ohtani pic.twitter.com/OVpcqJSAI0
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) February 21, 2024
Took 5 pitches without swinging v Daniel Hudson
Hit hard ground ball to the right side on first pitch from Ryan Yarbrough
That’s it for today.— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 21, 2024
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not yet disclosed when Ohtani will make his debut with the team in Cactus League games, but the expectation is that will occur at some point in the near future.
He remains on track to be in the Dodgers lineup for the Seoul Series next month.
Shohei Ohtani’s goal
The Dodgers have afforded Ohtani plenty of flexibility and autonomy with setting his workout schedule, and through a recent conversation with Roberts, a target was set of logging 50 at-bats this spring.
While some of those will certainly occur in Cactus League play, there’s also the possibility of Ohtani taking at-bats in simulated games or more instances of facing live pitching.
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