Shohei Ohtani has not been within the lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers to date this spring. Nevertheless, that’s about to alter.
According to the Dodgers, Ohtani is anticipated to make his 2025 spring debut on Friday when the Dodgers host the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch. Following offseason surgery to restore a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Ohtani will probably be slotted in because the Dodgers’ designated hitter towards the Angels, a franchise the place he performed from 2018-23 and received a pair of American League Most Useful Participant awards.
Ohtani added to his MVP assortment final season, turning into Main League Baseball’s first 50-50 participant as he hit 54 house runs and stole 59 bases to win the Nationwide League MVP award in his first season with the Dodgers. Along with his 2023 MVP whereas with the Angels, Ohtani enters 2025 as a back-to-back MVP winner.
The Dodgers won’t solely showcase Ohtani for the primary time on Friday, but additionally will see catcher Will Smith make his spring debut behind the plate towards the Angels. Smith has been slowed by an ankle damage this spring that has reportedly saved him from catching bullpen classes and taking any sort of reside batting follow.
In different debut information, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman took the sector for the primary time this spring on Thursday towards the Colorado Rockies because the staff’s designated hitter. The 35-year-old Freeman singled to proper subject in his first at-bat.
