GLENDALE, Ariz. — Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani will make limited appearances in spring training for the Los Angeles Dodgers before departing Arizona to represent Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
The superstar took his position as leadoff designated hitter in Saturday’s spring opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, with plans for two to three plate appearances.
“Sometimes he takes two and he feels good or he wants that third at-bat,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Roberts remained coy about Ohtani’s exact departure timeline, smiling when pressed about travel arrangements and saying, “I promised I’d try.”
The 31-year-old dual-threat player is slated to take the mound against live batters on Sunday, with Roberts already expressing confidence that Ohtani deserves Cy Young Award consideration this season.
“I know that it’s going to be soon. He’s going to play in a couple Cactus League games, but I’m not exactly sure when his plane ticket is. He hasn’t said,” Roberts said. “So I don’t know what day he’s going to join Team Japan.”
Meanwhile, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his spring debut as the starting pitcher, throwing approximately 35 pitches across two innings in his only Dodgers appearance before also departing for WBC duty.
“Obviously him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’s going to be kind of trying to ramp it up and get prepared so I think it’s just more of what he does strike one, use his secondaries and be efficient and get some outs,” Roberts said.
Upon Yamamoto’s return to the Dodgers’ facility, the right-hander will initially be limited to roughly four innings and 60 pitches, according to Roberts.
The 27-year-old hurler, who inked a massive $325 million, 12-year deal in December 2023, dominated in Los Angeles’ championship run with a perfect 3-0 record and 1.09 ERA across seven World Series contests against Toronto, making his workload management a priority following that exceptional postseason performance.
“I think it’s up to all of us to be mindful of workloads and short term, long term and all of that stuff, which we are,” Roberts said.
Yamamoto’s World Series excellence included 15 strikeouts against just two walks over 17 2/3 innings, surrendering only two runs on 10 hits. He joined Randy Johnson as the sole pitchers since 1969 to capture three victories in a single World Series.
“I think I’m confident because there’s no exact science on ramping up early and success,” Roberts said. “Or being methodical and not participating to result in success during the season. There’s just no exact science. I think for me and for all of us you’re just believing in the player, knowing that he knows what it takes to get ready for a season and he takes care of himself. So I think for me it’s an easy way to kind of think and wrap my head around just kind of believing in him, trusting him.”
