Ichiro & Masahiro Deliver a Series Slam in 2023!
The Los Angeles Dodgers expect starters Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to make one more pitching appearance before the end of camp. Ohtani and Yamamoto both played for Team Japan in the WBC , and will rejoin the team following their elimination at the hands of Team Venezuela. Ohtani is still yet to make a pitching appearance this preseason, while Yamamoto has pitched twice for the Dodgers and twice for Team Japan.
“Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Edwin Diaz are all expected to rejoin Dodgers camp after their teams were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic,” the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett wrote . “Ohtani and Yamamoto are likely to pitch in games before the Dodgers break camp on Saturday, but their schedules have not been determined yet. ” Manager Dave Roberts contradicted the report Monday morning, though, saying a Cactus League pitching return for Ohtani isn’t certain.
He did, however, say he is expected to start the season with three to four inning outings. Shohei Ohtani will be back as a hitter in Camelback Ranch in the coming days, Dave Roberts said. Will also throw a bullpen; whether he pitches in Cactus League is TBD.
Expectation is he’ll be able to go at least 3-4 innings to start season, Roberts said. — Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 16, 2026 The Dodgers also announced Yamamoto as their Opening Day starter , marking the second consecutive year in which he has filled that role. Your #OpeningDayLA starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto!
pic. twitter. com/4yQVcjV52Z — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 16, 2026 Throughout his four appearances in 2026, Yamamoto has allowed five runs through 11.