Shohei Ohtani to make spring training debut against Angels on Friday night, Roberts says

By: The Associated Press Posted: 1:39 PM CST Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani will make his first spring training appearance of the year on Friday night against his old team, the Los Angeles Angels.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/02/2025 (259 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ohtani, 30, will be the designated hitter. Roberts has not given a timetable for Ohtani’s return to the pitching mound other than to say he hopes it would be “sooner than later.” Roberts has ruled Ohtani out for the opening series in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19.

Ohtani injured his left shoulder sliding into second base during the World Series, when the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in five games. He did not pitch last season, his first with the Dodgers, while recovering from surgery to repair a ligament in his throwing elbow.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) during a spring training baseball practice, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Playing exclusively as a batter, he hit 54 home runs with 59 stolen bases — the first person in the major league 50/50 club — and won his third unanimous MVP award.

As a pitcher, Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA, including a 10-5 record and 3.14 ERA in 2023 before he was injured that August.