Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits HR
in 1st spring at-bat following offseason shoulder surgery
[March 01, 2025]
By DAVID BRANDT
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani
looked a little rusty for a moment on Friday night at Camelback
Ranch, producing just one awkward swing and miss while working a
full count against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi in the
first inning.
The five-pitch warmup was all he needed.
Batting in the leadoff spot, Ohtani drove the next pitch high into
the air to the opposite field, easily clearing the left field wall
for a solo homer in his first spring training appearance following
offseason shoulder surgery. A packed pro-Dodgers crowd roared in
approval and it's another sign that the three-time MVP could have
another big season.
“Regardless of the results, I think the biggest takeaway was that I
got through my three at-bats without any issues,” Ohtani said
through an interpreter. “Physically, I felt really good.”
Ohtani batted three times on Friday, popping out in the second
inning and striking out swinging in the fifth. As planned, he left
the game with several other starters following the fifth inning.
The 30-year-old Japanese star was playing against big league
competition for the first time since he had surgery to repair a
partially torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He
suffered the injury in Game 2 of the World Series while sliding into
second base, but still played in the final three games of the Fall
Classic as the Dodgers beat the Yankees in five games to win a
championship.
Ohtani won his third MVP last year after batting .310 with 54
homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player to
have 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in the same season. The two-way
star didn't pitch in 2024 — his first with the Dodgers — because of
an elbow injury.
Despite his huge success last season, he made a few minor tweaks to
his swing over the winter.
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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a home run
during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Los
Angeles Angels, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ashley
Landis)
“It's a constant feedback between how I feel and
how the swing actually looks,” Ohtani said. “Today was pretty good.
I felt like it was pretty consistent.”
Kikuchi and Ohtani went to the same high school in Japan, though
Kikuchi is three years older. The Angels left-hander said he wasn't
surprised that Ohtani went deep considering he left a fastball over
the plate.
“A player of his caliber, you can't get away with that,” Kikuchi
said. “He got me there.”
Ohtani is expected to return to the mound this season, but manager
Dave Roberts has said that probably won't happen until May.
Ohtani was playing on Friday against his former team, the Angels. He
spent the first six seasons of his big league career with the
Dodgers' crosstown rivals, winning his first two MVP awards in 2021
and 2023 and signed a $700 million, 10-year deal to join the Dodgers
after the 2023 season.
The Dodgers have a short spring training this season as they prepare
to open the season against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18-19,
where Ohtani hopes to play as the designated hitter.
Ohtani said he'd like to have 50 at-bats between live batting
practice and Cactus League games this spring before heading to
Tokyo.
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