‘Sho-Time’ arrives for Dodgers as Ohtani homers in preseason debut
— Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani made an impressive Los Angeles Dodgers debut on Tuesday, smashing a tworun homer in his new club’s 9-6 Major League Baseball preseason victory over the Chicago White Sox.
The 29-year-old designated hitter blasted his homer in the fifth inning and went 1-for-3 at the plate before being removed at the start of the sixth inning of the exhibition game at Glendale, Arizona.
“Definitely a big first step,” Ohtani said through a translator. “The biggest thing was that I was able to finish off the game without any problems.”
Ohtani won his second American League Most Valuable Player award in six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels last year but departed for free agency after failing to enjoy even a winning season, much less reach the MLB playoffs.
Known for his skills as a pitcher as well as swinging the bat, Ohtani will not take the mound in 2024 after undergoing right elbow surgery last September.
Simply playing, however, is another key step in his recovery, which he expects will see him play in this season’s MLB opening games against San Diego in Seoul on March 20-21.
“Not really any nerves because it was just a spring training game,” Ohtani said. “I was more focused on getting ready for the season, doing what I’ve got to do.”
Ohtani batted second in the Dodgers’ lineup between two other past MVP players, leadoff second baseman Mookie Betts and first baseman Freddie Freeman.
“No matter where I’m hitting in the lineup, I’m really not going to change my approach,” Ohtani said.
“I definitely thing it’s going to help me, not only having Freddie behind me but Mookie in front of me and a bunch of great hitters past Freddie. I’m excited to find out how it’s going to feel.”
“I definitely felt good at the plate,” Ohtani said. “I felt better each time I got up, so everything is trending in the right direction.”
Paul DeJong’s three-run homer in the fourth inning gave the White Sox a 4-1 lead, but Ohtani answered quickly.
In the fifth, Ohtani blasted a two-out, two-run homer over the centerfield fence off Chicago right-hander Dominic Leone to a standing ovation from the crowd, pulling the Dodgers within 4-3.
“Definitely felt the energy of the crowd. Very appreciative,” Ohtani said. “I thought I hit it a little too high, but maybe (hot and dry) Arizona factored in a little bit.”
Ohtani said the debut felt much different than in 2018 when he played for the Angels for the first time after just arriving from Japan.
“It’s obviously a lot different because six years ago I had no idea what I was really doing,” he said. “Now I’ve kind of got the hang of this.”
Ohtani signed a 10-year deal worth $700 million with the Dodgers last December.