Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani set to play a few Cactus League video games – NBC Los Angeles
Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to play a few Cactus League video games for the two-time defending World Sequence champion Los Angeles Dodgers earlier than he departs the desert to affix Japan for the World Baseball Traditional.
He was within the lineup main off as designated hitter scheduled for 2 or three at-bats for the membership’s spring coaching opener Saturday afternoon in opposition to the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
“Typically he takes two and he feels good or he needs that third at-bat,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned.
When requested about Ohtani’s journey plans, Roberts smiled and mentioned, “I promised I would strive.”
Ohtani is scheduled to pitch in opposition to stay hitting Sunday — and Roberts has already mentioned the 31-year-old two-way star needs to be within the Cy Younger Award dialog this season.
“I do know that it should be quickly. He’ll play in a pair Cactus League video games, however I am not precisely positive when his aircraft ticket is. He hasn’t mentioned,” Roberts mentioned. “So I do not know what day he will be part of Staff Japan.”
As well as, right-hander and reigning World Sequence MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto was beginning on the mound to pitch two innings and round 35 pitches for his lone outing for the Dodgers earlier than he additionally joins the Japanese workforce for the WBC.
“Clearly him going and pitching for Staff Japan, he will be sort of attempting to ramp it up and get ready so I believe it is simply extra of what he does strike one, use his secondaries and be environment friendly and get some outs,” Roberts mentioned.
As soon as Yamamoto returns to Los Angeles’ camp, he can be scheduled for round 4 innings and 60 pitches initially, in response to Roberts.
The 27-year-old Yamamoto, who signed a $325 million, 12-year contract in December 2023, went 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA within the Dodgers’ seven-game World Sequence in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays — so his workload after that excellent October is one thing the Dodgers will monitor carefully.
“I believe it’s as much as all of us to be aware of workloads and brief time period, long run and all of that stuff, which we’re,” Roberts mentioned.
Throughout his outstanding World Sequence, Yamamoto struck out 15 and walked two over 17 2/3 innings, permitting two runs and 10 hits. He and Randy Johnson are the one pitchers since 1969 to win three video games in a single World Sequence.
“I believe I am assured as a result of there isn’t any precise science on ramping up early and success,” Roberts mentioned. “Or being methodical and never collaborating to lead to success in the course of the season. There’s simply no precise science. I believe for me and for all of us you are simply believing within the participant, realizing that he is aware of what it takes to prepare for a season and he takes care of himself. So I believe for me it is a simple technique to sort of suppose and wrap my head round simply sort of believing in him, trusting him.”
