Shohei Ohtani (30), who joined the LA Dodgers for his first spring camp, starts with a new mindset with his new team.
On the 10th (Korean time), Ohtani met with reporters at the Dodgers' spring camp held at Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, and talked about various things. According to the LA Times, he expressed his determination, "Since I am a new team member, I will act like a rookie and get along well with everyone."
Ohtani, who underwent elbow surgery last year, plans to join the camp and continue the rehabilitation process. He, who has already been training at Dodger Stadium all winter, plans to try to regain his batting sense, including live batting during the camp, and is also not forgetting about his return to the mound in 2025.
Otani, who arrived at the camp amidst a great deal of coverage, said of his current status, "My swing is close to 100%," and explained, "The next step will be to use a pitching machine or live batting."
This isn't the first time Ohtani has started a season through rehabilitation. Previously, he underwent elbow ligament fusion surgery (Tommy John surgery) in October 2018, his first season in the Major League (MLB), and played only as a designated hitter without appearing on the mound in the 2019 season. In 106 games that year, he had a batting average of 0.286, 18 home runs, 62 RBI, 51 runs, 12 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.848. After going through an adjustment period until 2020, Ohtani returned to the mound in earnest the following year and showed off his good pitching skills.
Otani, who remembered this, said, “This is not the first time I have had to undergo rehabilitation while preparing for the season.” He then responded resolutely, saying, "I already know what to do because I already experienced something like this in 2019. I have a feeling the second time will be easier."
Ohtani is currently going through the process of adjusting to his new team. He is meeting many people and getting used to the changed environment. He jokingly said, "I like to say 'hello' and introduce myself, but there are so many people that I don't want to introduce myself twice. I'll make sure I'm remembered all at once."
The LA Times said, "Unlike in 2019, Ohtani is five years older, and amidst microscope-like attention, he came to a team that will not only advance to the postseason but also aim to win the World Series. His every move will attract attention."
Previously, before joining the camp, Ohtani attended the 2024 season fan festival held at Dodger Stadium, home stadium, on the 4th and greeted Dodgers fans for the first time. At the time, he mentioned his rehabilitation situation, saying, "It's going according to plan. It's neither fast nor slow." At the same time, he said, "I am very confident" that he will serve as a designated hitter in the '2024 MLB World Tour Seoul Series' held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul in March. He expressed confidence, saying, “As long as there are no major problems in the future, we will be ready.” Ohtani added, "When I go to Arizona, I plan to start a pitching program. Of course, the focus is on hitting. As for pitching, I plan to complete the program for a year."
If the visit to Korea is confirmed, it will be Otani's first official visit to Korea in 12 years. Previously, he visited Korea for the World Youth Baseball Championship in September 2012, when he was in his third year of high school. He pitched well in the 5th-6th place match against Korea held at Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, 6 walks, 6 walks, and 12 strikeouts in 7 innings, but he ended up being the losing pitcher after being pushed out by Korea, led by Lee Geon-wook (current SSG), who pitched 8 innings without allowing any runs. At that time, he gave up the first run in the 2nd inning to Song Jun-seok (formerly Samsung) with an RBI double, and in the 5th inning with 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd base, he committed a balk the moment runner Ahn Jung-yeol (currently NC) attempted to steal base, resulting in an additional run. allowed.
Lee Jeong-hoon (61), who was the national team coach at the time and now the Doosan 2nd team coach, told Star News in 2015, "Ohtani's fastball was so fast that high school players couldn't hit it. His slider also exceeded 134 km per hour. It won't be easy for even professionals to hit it. “I thought about it,” he said. “The timing
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