Sports
Ohtani Homers in First At-Bat of Spring Training Play
Ohtani hit a 3-2 four-seam fastball from Yusei Kikuchi over the left field fence into the Dodger bullpen leading off the bottom of the first
LOS ANGELES, CA — Shohei Ohtani homered in his first at-bat in a spring training game in 2025 Friday as the Dodgers hosted the Angels at their Camelback Ranch training facility in Glendale, Arizona.
Ohtani hit a 3-2 four-seam fastball from Yusei Kikuchi over the left field fence into the Dodger bullpen leading off the bottom of the first inning.
Ohtani popped out to shortstop Tim Anderson to end the second inning, also against Kikuchi, who has been announced as the Angels' starter in the season opener March 27 against the Chicago White Sox.
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Ohtani struck out on a 2-2 sinker from Chase Silseth leading off the bottom of the fifth.
Non-roster catcher Dalton Rushing pinch-hit for Ohtani in the seventh with the score tied, 4-4, and singled. In his next at-bat, Rushing doubled in Josue De Paula and Ryan Ward with one out in the ninth to give the Dodgers a 6- 5 victory.
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Ohtani has gotten off to a delayed start to spring training after undergoing successful arthroscopic shoulder surgery Nov. 5 "to repair a labrum tear that resulted from a left (non-throwing) shoulder dislocation" during Game 2 of the World Series, according to the team.
Ohtani injured the shoulder sliding while trying to steal second base in the seventh inning of the Oct. 26 game against the New York Yankees. Despite the injury, he played in all remaining games of the series.
Ohtani faced live pitching for the first time in 2025 on Sunday, swinging on 18 of 32 pitches from minor league right-hander Nicolas Cruz.
Ohtani is expected to be the Dodgers' designated hitter when they open the regular season March 18 against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo.
Ohtani was the unanimous choice as the National League's MVP in 2024, as he became Major League Baseball's first 50/50 player with 59 stolen bases and a National League-leading 54 home runs. He also led the league with 130 RBIs and 134 runs and was second in hits with 197, three behind Luis Arraez of the San Diego Padres.
Ohtani has thrown two bullpen sessions this spring as he attempts to return to the mound after not pitching in 2024 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He is expected to pitch for the Dodgers for the first time in May.
City News Service
