Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, and a pair of runs scored in the Dodgers' 5-4 win over the Tigers on Thursday night. His home run proved to be a necessary insurance run after he tacked it on in the seventh inning off Tigers relief pitcher Brenan Hanifee. Ohtani hit his first homer of the season in the Tokyo series and is off to a strong start as he looks to follow up his monster season last year with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. He hasn't attempted a stolen base yet this season but is 5-for-12 (.417) with three extra-base hits and a .606 wOBA in the very small sample size. So far this season, Ohtani looks ready to pick up right where he left off as the most productive slugger in baseball.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. This will be the first time that Ohtani has thrown since Feb. 25. The Dodgers have been slowly bringing him along, so it's unclear exactly when he'll get back on the mound in game action. Ohtani is going to serve as the DH to begin the season, but it shouldn't be too long before he's mixed in for starts as well. The two-way superstar didn't pitch at all in 2024 in his first year with the Dodgers after having Tommy John surgery.
In the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs to conclude the two-game Tokyo Series, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI for his first round-tripper of the 2025 season. The 30-year-old two-way Japanese superstar went 3-for-8 with a double, home run and three runs scored in L.A.'s two-game sweep of the Cubs. After becoming baseball's first-ever player to hit 50-plus home runs and steal 50-plus bases in a single season, Ohtani's home run in Tokyo will be the first of many for the Dodgers and fantasy managers. In addition to his 54 homer and 59 stolen bases in 2024, he had a league-high 130 RBI and 134 runs and also led in on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.646) and OPS (1.036) in 159 regular-season games. It's why Ohtani was probably the first player taken in your fantasy draft.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was the center of attention throughout this week in Japan, as he and the World Series champion Dodgers opened the season with a two-game series against the Cubs. On Tuesday morning, he delivered a solid performance in his team's 4-1 victory, going two-for-five with a pair of runs scored and a double. He scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning on an error and doubled and scored an insurance run in the ninth inning. While he didn't homer or steal a base, it was still a solid start to the regular season for the reigning MVP, who looks poised to be an absolute fantasy beast again this season.
Dodgers Giving Shohei Ohtani A "Respite" As He Ramps Up As A Pitcher
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) last threw a bullpen session in camp on Feb. 25. He continues to play catch, but manager Dave Roberts said on Thursday that the team is giving Ohtani "a little respite" from ramping up as a pitcher as he ramps up as a hitter for the start of the 2025 regular season this month. The 30-year-old right-hander won't face live hitters before the team leaves for the two-game season-opening series in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18 and 19 against the Chicago Cubs, and it's to be determined on how it will impact his timeline. Ohtani didn't pitch at all in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and then had surgery last fall on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. The Dodgers aren't rushing him at all to make his 2025 debut on the mound, which isn't expected to come until sometime in May. As a hitter, though, he should be the first player off the board in fantasy drafts.
Shohei Ohtani To Make Cactus League Debut On Friday
Los 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.
Shohei Ohtani Hits 95 MPH, Adds Cutters In Bullpen Session
Los 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.
Los 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.
Los 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.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow, shoulder) has thrown mostly out of the full windup in his first two bullpen sessions this spring after pitching almost exclusively out of the stretch in his time with the Los Angeles Angels. "As part of being a baseball player, I do want to explore different options ...different avenues, to see if I could grow as a player. I do that on the pitching side as well as a hitter," Ohtani said. The 30-year-old three-time MVP plans to continue using the windup once he begins pitching in games to see how his body responds. The change probably won't make much of an impact on Ohtani's fantasy value as he returns to pitching in 2025 after not pitching at all in his first year with the Dodgers while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers are slow-playing him as a pitcher, and he's unlikely to make his pitching debut for the Blue until sometime in May.
Shohei Ohtani
• DH
•
Dodgers
