GLENDALE, Ariz. — The countdown has begun.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he had a conversation with Shohei Ohtani earlier this week and Ohtani told him he will need 50 at-bats to prepare for the season. After Wednesday’s workout, Ohtani said those at-bats are all created equal, whether they come in a Cactus League game, in a live batting practice session or even facing a pitching machine in the batting cages.
“I feel like I have more than enough time to get to 50 at-bats,” Ohtani said through his interpreter.
“There’s not a huge difference within a game or inside. The main thing I’m looking for is the timing aspect, when I’m late on pitches or early, how my body reacts, how my bat reacts. There’s not too big of a difference.”
If that’s the case, Ohtani has already had at least five at-bats – three in live batting practice Monday and two more Wednesday.
Ohtani stood in for five pitches without swinging against Daniel Hudson during Wednesday’s session, then hit a hard ground ball through the right side of the infield on the first pitch he saw from Ryan Yarbrough.
“I’m feeling good at the plate, seeing the ball well,” Ohtani said. “Otherwise there’s nothing there (with his surgically repaired elbow). So it’s a really good sign.”
Roberts said earlier in the spring that Ohtani was “a lot further along” than expected in his recovery from September’s elbow surgery. Ohtani has said he was better prepared for the rehab this time, having come back from Tommy John surgery in October 2018 as well.
“I don’t really feel like it’s ahead of schedule. I feel like we’re right on schedule, which is a really good thing,” he said of Roberts’ comment. “And my body is reacting really well so far. So everything is trending in the right direction.”
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