Shohei Ohtani Confident He’ll Be Ready as Dodgers’ Designated Hitter for Season Opener in South Korea
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani, rehabbing from elbow surgery as a pitcher while also preparing as a hitter, expressed confidence that he will be ready to serve as Designated Hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers when they open their season in South Korea on March 20.
Manager Dave Roberts also confirmed Ohtani’s place in the batting order during the Dodgers Fan Fest held on Saturday.
Roberts announced that Mookie Betts will lead the lineup, followed by Freddie Freeman, with Ohtani batting third. The announcement drew cheers from a crowd of about 35,000 fans, many of whom were sporting new Ohtani jerseys to celebrate the Dodgers’ recent acquisition.
“The Dodgers, Los Angeles, are going to be the epicenter of sports and baseball,” Roberts said, alluding to the team’s star-studded lineup and their recent acquisitions.
Ohtani, who underwent a second Tommy John surgery in September, has been working on his rehab and making progress with hitting and throwing. He expressed confidence that he will be ready to play in the upcoming series against the San Diego Padres in South Korea.
Dodgers’ shortstop Gavin Lux and reliever Blake Treinen also hope to be ready early in the schedule, while pitcher Walker Buehler will navigate the season with an innings limit as he returns from his second Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers’ rotation has been completely remade this offseason, with several new additions, but the team still hopes to bring back Clayton Kershaw, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.
“We remain in contact with Clayton,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “We will make progress.”
As the Dodgers gear up for the upcoming season, Ohtani’s confidence and progress in his rehab provide a sense of optimism for the team and its fans as they look ahead to their season opener in South Korea.