Dodgers’ batting order: Ohtani will hit second between Betts, Freeman

Shohei Ohtani will take the No. 2 spot in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ batting order — at least for now.

In his exhibition debut with Dodgers against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in Phoenix, he was sandwiched between leadoff man Mookie

Betts and Freddie Freeman.

“I feel that having Shohei hitting in front of Freddie gives Shohei a lot of protection,” manager Dave Roberts said.

So far so good. In his third at-bat — after he struck out and grounded into a double play — Ohtani hit a two-run homer into the left-field stands. The Dodgers won, 9-6. Ohtani is not pitching this season because of elbow surgery, but he will be the designated hitter.

ELSEWHERE

Blue Jays: Reliever Erik Swanson left spring training to tend to his 4-year-old son, Toby, who was hit by a car and airlifted to a hospital Sunday in

Clearwater. Manager

John Schneider said the boy is “on the road to recovery.”

Giants: The team reached agreement on a minor-league deal with shortstop Nick Ahmed, 33, that includes a spring training invite. He hit .212 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 72 games last season with Arizona, his longtime team. He is expected to compete with highly touted prospect

Marco Luciano and

Casey Schmitt, who is in his second season. The Giants didn’t re-sign

Brandon Crawford, 37, who is joining St. Louis.

Former Cardinals pitcher dies: José DeLeón, a major-league pitcher for 13 seasons who led the National League in strikeouts for St. Louis in 1989, died Sunday at 63 in the Dominican Republic, the AP reported. No cause of death was given.

DeLeon was 86-119 with a 3.76 ERA as a starter and reliever for several teams, beginning with Pittsburgh in 1983. In 1989, the righthander had 201 strikeouts in 2442⁄3 innings, tops in the NL.