In his first batting practice of spring training on Wednesday, it took just four swings for Shohei Ohtani to look like himself.
Barely three months removed from the left shoulder surgery he underwent to repair the torn labrum he suffered in the World Series, Ohtani arrived at camp this week in something of rehab mode.
He still is working to regain full range of motion in his shoulder, hopeful he’ll be ready to serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter by opening day. He still has many boxes to check on the mound too, as he aims to resume two-way duties after being unable to pitch last year while recovering from a Tommy John revision surgery.
But even as he works his way back to 100%, Ohtani reminded hundreds of awestruck fans at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility Wednesday of his prodigious power.
After three lazy popups to begin batting practice, Ohtani walloped a long home run to right field, so deep a coach shagging fly balls simply turned and watched it sail over the fence. In the 13 swings that followed, Ohtani launched nine more balls out of the park.
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“I feel pretty good,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton afterward. “Almost getting there, to where I want it to be.”
The Dodgers are hopeful that the real challenge for Ohtani won’t be about his health, but rather his process of returning to the two-way role that made him a superstar early in his MLB career with the Angels.
And already, the Dodgers are brainstorming ways for the three-time most valuable player to balance his workload on the mound and at the plate — with Ohtani on track to resume pitching in the big leagues by May, if not sooner.
“He’s excited to pitch,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “I’m as excited and curious as you guys are” to watch him.
Ohtani’s return to the mound could come with some trade-offs offensively. Roberts said he doesn’t expect Ohtani to steal as many bases as he did last year, when the 30-year-old swiped 59 bags while authoring baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal season.
Roberts said he might look to give Ohtani more days off as a DH as well, making it unlikely Ohtani will match his total of 159 games played last year.
“We haven’t got there yet as far as what he’s comfortable with, what he feels good…