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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws in the outfield prior to a Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images Shohei Ohtani is back in Dodgers camp after the World Baseball Classic, and will likely be back in the Dodgers lineup later this week. We’re also nearing the point when he will pitch in an actual game, after doing his pitching build-up this spring on the backfields and before games.
Ohtani pitched four simulated innings last Friday in Miami on a World Baseball Classic workout day , which lines up for another potential start this weekend in an actual game. Whether that start will come at Camelback Ranch or during the Freeway Series against the Angels, Ohtani is much more built-up than last season, when he eased back into the rotation with short starts, beginning in June. “Last year we had the plan to start from one inning, to keep him going active with us playing.
I think this year we’re certainly north of that,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Tuesday in Arizona . “I don’t see how we wouldn’t be able to get to three or four innings in a major league game. That’s certainly a better jumping off point than last year.
” Ohtani had three seasons with the Angels (2021-23) during which he was a full-time two-way player for the entire season. He made at least 23 starts in each of those seasons, and topped out at 28 starts and 166 innings in 2022, when he finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting and second for AL MVP (behind Aaron Judge and his 63 home runs). Ohtani as a two-way player truly showcases the impact he has on the sport.
Baseball revolves around the batter-pitcher matchup, as he’s involved in more of those battles than anyone. From 2021-23 with the Angels, Ohtani had 13 different baseball months during which he was involved in at least 200 plate appearances either batting or pitching, topping out at 268 PA in September 2022. That year was nearly an even split for Ohtani, facing 660 batters while pitching and batting 666 times.