GLENDALE, Ariz. — It’s Sho time — preseason version.
The Dodgers announced their $700 million man, Shohei Ohtani, will see his first game action with his new team on Tuesday. Ohtani is expected to start at DH against the Chicago White Sox in the Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch.
Ohtani will likely only take two at-bats in the game. But it will come just over five months after he underwent elbow surgery. That surgery was his second reconstructive procedure and will prevent him from pitching until 2025.
The reigning American League MVP progressed from hitting ‘flips” from coaches and off a tee just about 3 1/2 weeks ago to facing pitchers in live batting practice four times in the past week.
He had three more at-bats on Sunday – one against Joe Kelly, two against Jesse Hahn.
He looked good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I thought today was a good day for Shohei.”
Ohtani has said he thinks he needs 50 at-bats to be prepared for the regular season games in Korea on March 20-21. Those at-bats can come in Cactus League play, live batting practice or hitting off a high-tech pitching machine at Camelback Ranch.
“I feel like I have more than enough time to get to 50 at-bats,” Ohtani said through his interpreter earlier this week.
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“There’s not a huge difference within a game or inside. The main thing I’m looking for is the timing aspect, when I’m late on pitches or early, how my body reacts, how my bat reacts. There’s not too big of a difference.”
Roberts said earlier in the spring that Ohtani was “a lot further along” than expected in his recovery from September’s elbow surgery. But Ohtani has said he was better prepared for the rehab this time, having come back from Tommy John surgery in October 2018 as well, and wasn’t surprised with his progress.
“I don’t really feel like it’s ahead of schedule. I feel like we’re right on schedule, which is a really good thing,” he said. “And my body is reacting really well so far. So everything is trending in the right direction.”
Tuesday’s game is likely to sell out but tickets are currently available through the Dodgers’ website.