Shohei Ohtani's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) will make his Cactus League debut with the team at some point next week. The Dodgers are slow-playing the two-time American League MVP this spring after he had right-elbow surgery last year. It will keep the 29-year-old Japanese sensation from pitching in his first year in LA, but Ohtani will serve as the Dodgers' full-time DH and is fully expected to be ready for the two-game, season-opening series against the San Diego Padres at the end of March. He said he thinks around 50 at-bats in spring games and in live batting practice sessions will be enough for him to be ready to go for the regular season. Ohtani has immense power and will be even more valuable in the middle of the Dodgers' stacked batting order.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) won't play in Cactus League games this weekend but could be in the lineup next week, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers aren't rushing their prized free-agent acquisition into spring training games after he had right-elbow surgery following the 2023 season. The 29-year-old Japanese superstar said he wants to get around 50 at-bats in spring games, on back fields, and in live batting practice sessions before the start of the two-game series in Korea against the San Diego Padres on March 20-21. Despite coming off elbow surgery and not pitching at all in his first year in LA, Ohtani will be a highly sought after bat in fantasy leagues as early as late in the first round.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he had a conversation with designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow), and Ohtani wants 50 at-bats this spring to be ready for the regular-season opener in Korea against the division-rival San Diego Padres. The at-bats could come as a combination of live batting practice, simulated games on the back field and in Cactus League games. The 29-year-old Japanese superstar had right-elbow surgery last September and won't pitch at all in his first year in LA, but he will open the regular season as the full-time DH. Ohtani could get off to a slow start at the plate as his surgically repaired right elbow adjusts, but he should still be in consideration for fantasy managers late in the first round after winning his second American League MVP in 2023 in the last three years.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) is planning to take live batting practice at spring training on Monday. Ohtani was initially scheduled to take live BP on Sunday, but Ohtani pushed it back a day. It will be the first time that the 29-year-old Japanese superstar will face live pitching since having his second Tommy John surgery in September. Ohtani is expected to be ready to kick off his first season in LA against the San Diego Padres in the two-game Korean series in late March. Even though he won't be available to fantasy managers as a pitcher in 2024, Ohtani, who has been the American League MVP in two of the last three seasons, will be a top-15 hitter in fantasy after leading the league in homers (44), on-base percentage (.412), slugging percentage (.654), OPS (1.066) and total bases (325) in 2023 with the Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow), who was scheduled to face live pitching for the first time since his offseason elbow surgery, will not take batting practice on Sunday. This was obviously an anticipated batting practice session, considering the star power of Ohtani, but manager Dave Roberts told reporters that the schedule change has nothing to do with the superstar's health. Roberts added that he wants Ohtani to chart his own schedule. It shouldn't be a surprise if Ohtani started taking swings against live pitching as early as Monday. The fact that the two-way star won't be pitching this season certainly puts a damper on his overall fantasy prospects, but he should still be able to return high-end value as offensive player hitting in the middle of a loaded Dodgers lineup.