GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said Tuesday that Ohtani will be the designated hitter for Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres as the Japanese two-way star prepares for Opening Day on March 26.
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Ohtani recently returned to Dodgers training camp at Camelback Ranch after Japan was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. The four-time Most Valuable Player did not pitch in the WBC for Team Japan, but did get off the mound in a bullpen outing.
“I think three to four (innings) tomorrow is fair,” Roberts said. “It’s more about doing the best we can and getting him ready for the season with what we have left. When he was in Japan, he did his job and now you’re going to put him up against real competition, develop him there and try to get as much build-up as possible before the season starts.”
Roberts said Ohtani plans to play in one more preseason game on March 23 or 24 against the Los Angeles Angels.
That means the right-hander likely won’t make his first regular-season start until the team’s second-round series against the Cleveland Guardians.
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Ohtani had a 2.87 ERA in 14 regular season starts last season after returning to the mound from an elbow injury. He also went 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in the postseason, helping the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series title.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
