Shohei Ohtani Asked for At Bats Minimum to Ready Himself For Dodgers Season Opener
As Shohei Ohtani continues to work his way back through rehabbing a torn UCL, he should be starting to get into game action fairly soon. While Ohtani won't be playing in the Dodgers Cactus League opener later this week, he is starting to ramp things up.
The Dodgers open the season in one month against the San Diego Padres in Korea, and Ohtani is looking to make his debut during the games. However, he has asked for an at-bat minimum through Spring Training before he officially suits up in the real games.
According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani wants at least 50 at-bats throughout the spring. He wants to feel ready for the regular season opener.
If Ohtani begins playing in games as a hitter soon, he should have no issue getting the needed at-bats in before the start of the season. The Dodgers want to make sure he is completely healthy before they throw him into the fire, so taking the necessary steps is crucial.
Ohtani hit a home run in his first batting practice the other day, showing the improvement he has made with the injury. Fans have been waiting to see him don the Dodgers jersey, and if all goes well, he will do just that when the season kicks off.
