The Los Angeles Dodgers count on Shohei Ohtani to be able to hit when the defending World Series champions open their season in Japan in opposition to the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19.
“I do not assume he would do it some other manner,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned Monday of the NL MVP who had shoulder surgical procedure final month. “That is our expectation.”
After his third MVP award, Ohtani is unlikely to pitch as he recovers from elbow surgical procedure in September 2023. Roberts mentioned an look in Japan is “not possible.”
“I simply do not assume we will begin the clock in March after which assume we will proceed it into October,” Roberts mentioned in the course of the winter conferences. “Then that will require a break or a mid-season respite, so I do not know. I nonetheless assume unlikely.”
Ohtani underwent surgical procedure on Nov. 5 to restore a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, an harm the 30-year-old suffered whereas sliding throughout a stolen base try in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26. pitching in any respect in the course of the first season of his 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers whereas recovering from elbow surgical procedure, having beforehand undergone Tommy John surgical procedure in October 2018.
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The unanimous MVP of the National League after turning into the primary participant with not less than 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season, Ohtani undoubtedly desires to be within the lineup in Japan.
“It’s not established. If one thing would not really feel proper, really feel it, clearly we’ve got to vary path. Maybe plenty of dissatisfied followers,” Roberts mentioned. “We’ll do what’s greatest for Shohei. But the place we’re proper now, I count on him to play.”
Associated Press reporting.
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