GLENDALE, Ariz. – Both Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman have remarked that Shohei Ohtani has impressed them with the “intentional” approach he takes to his workouts.
“Obviously we knew his work ethic was top shelf,” Friedman said. “But to see how deliberate everything he does is – our training staff commented that they’ve never seen a guy returning from surgery that is so intentional about every single thing they do. … Most guys kind of get in the cage and they just mindlessly swing. He does his whole pre-pitch routine between every pitch. Just how intentional every single thing he does is – whether it’s in the weight room, out on the field – that you can’t really fully appreciate until you see it.”
The Dodgers saw it on the field for the first time this spring on Monday. Ohtani has been hitting in the batting cages for a week now but he took batting practice on the field for the first time since his oblique injury ended his 2023 season with the Angels on September 4.
“I felt really good overall. Every swing got really strong with some good results,” Ohtani said through his interpreter.
“It was my first time hitting outside since I got the oblique injury so I was being a little careful. Overall I felt really good.”
Ohtani said there is a different intent behind his work when he takes batting practice in the cage or on the field.
“When I hit outside, it’s more to check the strength and how strong I’m feeling,” he said. “Inside it’s more technical stuff.”
In that case, Monday’s outdoor session checked the right boxes. Ohtani took 21 swings in two rounds off gameplanning coach J.T. Watkins. Ten of them cleared the fences – several by a wide margin.
“I was planning on … to swing on the lighter side,” Ohtani said. “But I felt like the swings were feeling really good, which is a really good sign. I think it’s trending towards me being ready for Opening Day.”
Wow, Shohei. pic.twitter.com/ifYb2cHVzY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 12, 2024
MOOKIE ARRIVES
Mookie Betts was among the position players in camp on Monday. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Wednesday.
Betts was asked about the Dodgers’ big moves during the offseason and the high expectations that have come with them.
“You have to go play, man,” he said. “We’ve had some really good teams here and some guys in their prime here and we haven’t done it. No matter what team we roll out there, we have to go play. I have to show up. I went 0-for-11 (in the NL Division Series sweep by the Arizona Diamondbacks last fall) and we had a really good team last year. So if I don’t show up, it doesn’t matter. Not just me, but all of us. If we don’t show up, we’re going to lose. So we have to go play.”
Related Articles
Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto tackling challenges of new league, new team
Dodgers’ James Paxton ‘ready to get after it’ following reworked contract
Dave Roberts has to ‘pinch myself’ seeing Shohei Ohtani in Dodgers uniform
Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw made ‘big decision’ to have surgery, postpone retirement
Dodgers head to spring training in ‘full villain mode’
ALSO
Right-hander Joe Kelly and catcher Will Smith were back in camp Monday after being absent for personal reasons over the weekend.