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PHOENIX — In his first batting practice of spring training on Wednesday, it took just four swings for Shohei Ohtani to look like himself.
Barely three months removed from the left shoulder surgery he underwent to repair the torn labrum he suffered in the World Series, Ohtani arrived at camp this week in something of rehab mode.
He still is working to regain full range of motion in his shoulder, hopeful he’ll be ready to serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter by opening day. He still has many boxes to check on the mound too, as he aims to resume two-way duties after being unable to pitch last year while recovering from a Tommy John revision surgery.
But even as he works his way back to 100%, Ohtani reminded hundreds of awestruck fans at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility Wednesday of his prodigious power.
After three lazy popups to begin batting practice, Ohtani walloped a long home run to right field, so deep a coach shagging fly balls simply turned and watched it sail over the fence. In the 13 swings that followed, Ohtani launched nine more balls out of the park.
The Dodgers have amassed so much talent at every position and are so focused on fine details, they are poised to set a new MLB record with 120 wins.
“I feel pretty good,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton afterward. “Almost getting there, to where I want it to be.”
The Dodgers are hopeful that the real challenge for Ohtani won’t be about his health, but rather his process of returning to the two-way role that made him a superstar early in his MLB career with the Angels.
And already, the Dodgers are brainstorming ways for the three-time most valuable player to balance his workload on the mound and at the plate — with Ohtani on track to resume pitching in the big leagues by May, if not sooner.
“He’s excited to pitch,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “I’m as excited and curious as you guys are” to watch him.
Ohtani’s return to the mound could come with some trade-offs offensively. Roberts said he doesn’t expect Ohtani to steal as many bases as he did last year, when the 30-year-old swiped 59 bags while authoring baseball’s first 50-homer, 50-steal season.
Roberts said he might look to give Ohtani more days off as a DH as well, making it unlikely Ohtani will match his total of 159 games played last year.
“We haven’t got there yet as far as what he’s comfortable with, what he feels good about,” Roberts said. “I’m looking forward to those conversations, but it’s obviously going to be a little more complex than it was last year.”
Follow along for the latest news as the Dodgers open spring training at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix following their World Series-winning campaign.
Ohtani said he does “want to play as much as possible” but “if the team feels like I should get a break, I’ll follow that.”
Roberts said Ohtani isn’t expected to pitch in any Cactus League games. He has yet to even begin throwing bullpen sessions, though that could happen as soon as this weekend. So far, Ohtani has completed only flat-ground throwing sessions.
“I’m very satisfied overall with my throwing,” he said.
Come the start of the season, the Dodgers aren’t planning to send Ohtani on a rehab assignment to keep building, either — something that would be standard for pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Instead, Ohtani probably will complete his pitching rehab in simulated games in order to remain available as a hitter.
As the Dodgers officially opened spring training at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday, returning players were firmly looking forward as they embarked on a title defense.
The plan to employ a six-man rotation should help limit his innings and prevent the need for him to take any midseason break. Club officials also downplayed the impact surgery might have on his swing, noting that the procedure was to his back shoulder rather than the lead right shoulder that generates much of his power.
“I do feel like there’s some discomfort that I have to still overcome, [but] it’s not really debilitating,” Ohtani said. “Just a limited range of motion. I’ve gone through it with the elbow before. With the shoulder, it’s a little bit more complicated. I do believe that’s the part that I have to be patient with.”
Barring any setbacks, Ohtani might not have to be patient much longer. He said he feels like he’s on schedule to be ready to hit by opening day. His return to pitching should come soon after.
“He’s worked really hard, looks really strong and the throwing program hasn’t wavered,” Roberts said last week, an assessment Ohtani backed up with Wednesday’s dazzling batting practice. “You just wouldn’t think that there was any surgery this past winter.”
Phillips, Kopech questionable for opening day
Two of the Dodgers’ best relief arms might begin the season on the injured list.
Roberts said Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech came into camp “a little bit behind schedule” after dealing with injuries this offseason. Kopech dealt with forearm inflammation last month. Phillips, meanwhile, didn’t begin his offseason throwing program until January — about a month later than usual — while recovering from a tear in the back of his rotator cuff that he suffered in the National League Championship Series. Phillips said his shoulder started to bother him after a 34-pitch outing in Game 4 .
While Phillips managed to pitch again in Game 6, he was left off the World Series roster after an MRI exam revealed a tear in his shoulder.
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