Shohei Ohtani homers in first at-bat of Dodgers spring coaching, towards the Angels

Shohei Ohtani has spent extra time running on his pitching this spring coaching. He can nonetheless weigh down a ball, although. (Photograph via Brandon Sloter/Getty Pictures)In his spring coaching debut Friday, Shohei Ohtani picked up the place he left off in his 50-50 2024 marketing campaign.The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar hit a full-count, opposite-field house run in his first at-bat in Arizona, overcoming the lefty-lefty downside to take countryman Yusei Kikuchi into the left subject stands. The homer got here towards his former group, the Los Angeles Angels.Ohtani is coming off the primary 50-homer, 50-stolen base season in MLB historical past, in addition to his first Global Collection championship and 3rd MVP award. He hit six leadoff homers final yr.This spring coaching is other than final yr’s for Ohtani, although, as he’s additionally making ready to pitch his first innings as a Dodgers. After spending all of 2024 as a delegated hitter whilst rehabbing from principal elbow surgical treatment, Ohtani is slated to renew his two-way stardom.That pitching timeline was once sophisticated within the Global Collection when he tore the labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder. After in the past being anticipated to be able to pitch on Opening Day this yr, Ohtani is now slated to start out pitching once more as early as Might. He’ll now not undergo a rehab task, because the Dodgers don’t wish to lose his bat within the major-league lineup.Ohtani threw his first bullpen consultation previous this month, sitting at 92-94 mph together with his fastball. He has endured to tinker since then, and the Dodgers will welcome him again as soon as he is able, particularly as it way they’ll be capable of get started the use of a six-man rotation with a unit now not identified for its power well being.On the other hand the pitching works out this yr, the Dodgers will have to nonetheless have his bat. As he confirmed all of final yr, and once more Friday, that is sufficient to make lots distinction. The Dodgers entered spring coaching because the transparent Global Collection favourite after an lively and costly offseason, with their payroll sitting round $400 million.