3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) will make his Cactus League debut on Friday against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, according to the Los Angeles Times' Jack Harris. Ohtani, who had surgery in November to fix the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, will serve as the designated hitter and will be ready to go as a hitter for the March 18 opener in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old three-time MVP didn't pitch at all in 2024 in his first year with the Dodgers after having Tommy John surgery, and he's unlikely to make his 2025 debut on the mound until early May. Ohtani's right elbow certainly didn't give him problems at the plate last year, as he clubbed over 50 homers and stole over 50 bases to make major-league history. As a DH, the Japanese sensation will be the first player off the board in most fantasy drafts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Jack Harris
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) touched 95 mph during his 25-pitch bullpen session in camp on Saturday while also adding cutters. Roberts said that Ohtani adding cutters was "a big step." The 30-year-old Japanese right-hander didn't pitch at all in his first season with the Dodgers in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Ohtani is also recovering from surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder and isn't expected to make his pitching debut in 2025 until early May. He will not pitch in any Cactus League games as a precaution in spring training. Ohtani wasn't slowed down at all by his elbow surgery last year as a hitter and won his third MVP award after hitting 50-plus home runs and stealing 50-plus bases. He'll eventually be a high-upside fantasy pitcher, but not before missing at least the first month of the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) touched 95 mph during his recent bullpen session on Saturday. He also added his cutter, which was a "big step" for the 30-year-old. His cutter was his third-most used pitch during the 2023 season. Ohtani is slowly ramping up his pitching workload, as he was unable to take the mound at all during the 2024 campaign. Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2023. However, his recovery as a pitcher did not inhibit his performance in the batter's box. Last season, the 30-year-old established the 50/50 club as he held a .310/.390/.646 line. Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that Ohtani is targeting a return to the mound in May. However, fantasy managers should continue to expect him to operate as the team's DH during the campaign's opening month. During the 2023 season, Ohtani held a 3.14 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP with 167 punchouts across 132 innings.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Fabian Ardaya
3 weeks agoLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) will face live pitching -- either off a Trajekt machine or a pitcher -- for the first time in camp on Friday. Ohtani didn't pitch at all in his first season in L.A. in 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, and he also had surgery to fix the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder last November. His elbow injury clearly didn't slow him down at all as a hitter, as he set a new MLB record as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. We don't think the 30-year-old three-time MVP will have any trouble coming back from his shoulder injury this year as a hitter. He'll be delayed from making his pitching debut in 2025 until May, but Ohtani will continue to serve as the team's regular DH and leadoff hitter and is the consensus No. 1 overall fantasy pick after his monstrous campaign a year ago.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
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