The versatile and talented player also gave a promising update on his recovery from elbow surgery.
The start of Spring Training has officially begun, and on Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to commence their camp. As expected, all attention was focused on Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ new acquisition with a staggering $700 million price tag.
Despite being the highest-paid athlete in the world, this multi-talented superstar is approaching his debut with the Dodgers in a humble manner.
“I am joining a completely new team, so I will adopt the mindset of a rookie and strive to build strong relationships with my teammates,” he expressed.
Ohtani also shared encouraging news about his rehabilitation from elbow surgery. Following a procedure to repair a torn UCL in September, the reigning American League MVP will not pitch this season. However, he is expected to contribute as a designated hitter for the Dodgers in 2024.
During the team’s Fan Fest event earlier this month, manager Dave Roberts announced that Ohtani will occupy the No. 3 spot in the batting order as the designated hitter.
The 29-year-old athlete has already begun swinging the bat at full force and his next challenge will be facing high-velocity pitching machines and live pitchers. Ohtani believes that managing his hitting and pitching rehabilitation will be easier this year, as he has already gone through this process in 2019.
Ohtani recently signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $700 million contract. However, due to deferred payments, he will only receive an annual salary of $2 million for the next decade. In addition, the Dodgers made another significant signing by securing Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a historic 12-year, $325 million contract, the largest pitching contract in history.
Last year, the Dodgers had an impressive record of 100-62 and clinched the NL West title for the 10th time in the past 11 seasons. Unfortunately, their postseason journey was cut short when they were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series. With the addition of Ohtani and Yamamoto, the Dodgers hope to make the necessary strides to overcome this hurdle.
On March 20-21, the Dodgers will kick off their regular season against the San Diego Padres in South Korea.
According to the Source outkick.com