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 in 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.”
LUX REDUX
The Dodgers will open Cactus League play against the San Diego Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday – one week short of the one-year anniversary of Gavin Lux’s devastating knee injury, suffered while running the bases during a game there last spring.
“I think I’m more excited than nervous. Honestly, I think there’s just going to be more anxiousness to get back out there,” Lux said. “It’s really been a year and a half. I guess I only played in two spring training games before I blew out. I think it’s more just excited to get back out there and run around and be a baseball player instead of a rehab player,”
There is a hurdle to overcome, stepping back onto the field after such a significant injury, Roberts acknowledged.
“I think so. And I think that’s normal,” Roberts said. “You can do all the prep work, the rehab. But until you get out there and you test it, you just never know. Obviously with the injury, it happened on the bases. So trying to avoid a potential tag, or a play going to his left or right, I think those are things that, yeah, there probably is some doubt until you know.”
Lux said he is aware his return to action will come on the same field where his 2023 season was wiped out.
“That’s part of it,” he said. “I’m going to (bleeping) defeat that place and get out of there alive this year. Knock on wood. I’m just more excited than anything.”
ALSO
Right-hander Gavin Stone will start the Dodgers’ first Cactus League game Thursday, with Michael Grove and Alex Vesia among those scheduled to follow.