MLB 2024: What to watch for
Shohei Ohtani’s 31-mile journey north on Interstate 5 during free agency was the highlight of Major League Baseball’s offseason, even if recent off-the-field developments have clouded his first season with the Dodgers.
But the Japanese superstar will be far from the only All-Star-caliber player in a new uniform when MLB’s regular season opens Thursday for 28 of 30 teams. The Dodgers and Padres started last week in Seoul.
Here’s what to watch for on MLB’s opening day:
THE SHO GOES ON
Ohtani already made his Dodgers debut last week in South Korea, but all eyes will still be on the two-way sensation as LA hosts the Cardinals. The $700 million star is trying to play on after the firing of his longtime interpreter and friend Ippei Mizuhara, who Ohtani said Monday stole money from him to pay off gambling debts. Mizuhara was fired while the Dodgers were in Seoul last week for a two-game, regular-season opener against San Diego.
Ohtani, who won’t pitch this season while recovering from a second Tommy John surgery, was 3 for 10 with two RBIs as Los Angeles split the Seoul Series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts posited Tuesday that Mizuhara’s absence could be good for Ohtani, saying Mizuhara had been a “buffer” between the Japanese star and his new teammates.
NEW IN TOWN
Several stars are set to debut with new teams. Juan Soto, still just 25, was dealt from the Padres to the Yankees and will slot into the lineup along with Aaron Judge when New York faces Houston. The Astros might counter Soto with Josh Hader, a five-time AllStar closer who signed with Houston in January.
Corbin Burnes is on the mound for Baltimore against the Angels after a Feb. 1 trade from Milwaukee. Matt Chapman should be at third base for the Giants against San Diego, and Rhys Hoskins suits up for the Brewers against the Mets.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Two top hitting prospects — the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio and the Rangers’ Wyatt Langford — are set to make their big league debuts. Chourio, 20, signed an $82 million, eight-year deal this offseason, the most money guaranteed to a player with no major league experience. Langford will reach the majors less than a year after Texas selected him fourth overall in the 2023 amateur draft from the University of Florida.
Neither Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday nor Nationals outfielder James Wood cracked their opening day rosters despite impressive spring trainings.
OPEN AND CLOSE
Several teams are expected to open the season without their injured closers, including the Diamondbacks (Paul Sewald), Orioles (Félix Bautista), Brewers (Devin Williams), Twins (Jhoan Durán) and Blue Jays (Jordan Romano).
Defending AL East champion Baltimore signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, eighth on the career list with 417 saves, to fill in for Bautista, who is expected to miss the entire season following Tommy John surgery.