Newer Headline: Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers Rides 2023 with Unmatched Power!
After exit from World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani has rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. He might pitch soon.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting an earlier-than-expected reunion with superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is set to rejoin the club after competing internationally and could now pitch before the regular season begins. Ohtani and fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto had spent most of Spring Training away from the Dodgers while representing Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Japan entered the tournament hoping to repeat as champions after winning the 2023 event, but its run ended Saturday with a quarterfinal loss to Team Venezuela.
According to Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen of MLB. com , though the result was disappointing for Japan, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes the two stars will quickly shift their focus back to Los Angeles and the pursuit of another championship. “It never feels good not to win it, the WBC,” Roberts said.
“But I think that their goal is to win a championship this year for the Dodgers. I think that now their focus is just solely the Dodgers. ” Japan’s earlier-than-anticipated elimination also created an unexpected benefit for Los Angeles: It opens the door for Ohtani to take the mound in a Spring Training game.
Before departing for international play, Ohtani appeared in just one Cactus League contest, going 1-for-3 with a single in the Dodgers’ spring opener. Because Japan was widely expected to make a deep tournament run, the Dodgers had not planned to use Ohtani as a pitcher in Arizona during camp. However, with the timeline now shifting, Ohtani could make a pitching appearance later this week in Arizona, or potentially during the upcoming Freeway Series exhibitions against the Los Angeles Angels from March 22–24.