Shohei Ohtani didn’t hold back in his Los Angeles Dodgers spring debut, cranking out an incredible 107 miles per hour home run against the Los Angeles Angels — his previous team. Following shoulder surgery, there were doubts about Ohtani’s condition, but that one swing cleared everything up. With a focus on a stellar 2025 season, Ohtani looks ready to take back his title as MLB’s most dynamic two-way star.
Shohei Ohtani Confident After First Game Since Surgery
Ohtani’s turn at the plate against his previous team at Camelback Ranch made real excitement. Against lefty Yusei Kikuchi, Ohtani showed his signature patience, taking the count to full before swinging forcefully. His 93.9 mph fastball shot high over the left-field wall and into the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Focusing on his remarkable strength and form, the ball came off Ohtani’s bat at an amazing 107 miles per hour with a 26-degree launch angle. Racking up 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases last season, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a revolutionary 2024 season.
Unfortunately, he had to have surgery to mend a ripped labrum in his left shoulder.
All smiles for Shohei Ohtani’s #SpringTraining debut 🙂 pic.twitter.com/lDTwGO23WA
— MLB (@MLB) March 1, 2025
Due to the procedure, there were some questions about Ohtani’s preparedness for the new season. However, his spring debut really eased those concerns.
In his following at-bats, Ohtani hit a pop fly to shortstop and then struck out swinging. After the strikeout, he was seen shaking his shoulder, which caused some worry. Yet, he later reassured everyone with the help of his interpreter, Will Ireton, that even though he was late on that last swing, his shoulder felt great, and he viewed it as a good test.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts holds great confidence in Ohtani’s healing process as the player prepares to contribute at a high level this season. During his spring training evaluation of Ohtani, Roberts realized he would never have identified the superstar as someone who had undergone shoulder surgery the previous winter because he appeared healthy.
During an interview, Roberts explained the exciting prospects for Ohtani in the upcoming season regarding his position as both pitcher and hitter. The Dodgers manager believes Ohtani will remain effective while pitching since he will also have fewer hitting opportunities. Ohtani will steal fewer bases this season because Los Angeles needs to control his workload and prevent overuse of his legs while pitching.
Ohtani established a positive start to the MLB season through his strong performance. He aims to completely recover into his dual-position role while planning to throw pitches by May. In his assessment, Ohtani determined the major victory came from finishing three at-bats without any problems.
His health status and performance will play a crucial role when the Dodgers play their first games against the Chicago Cubs during the Tokyo Series on March 18 and 19. The Dodgers depend on Ohtani to contribute equally as a batter and a pitcher, which makes him their essential asset in their World Series championship.
