LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Could is “about proper,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned Saturday on the group’s annual fan fest.
He reiterated Ohtani will not pitch within the season-opening Japan Collection in opposition to the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19 in Tokyo.
The 2-way celebrity hasn’t pitched within the majors since August 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. The appropriate-hander had s urgery on his left shoulder on Nov. 5 after dislocating it on a stolen base try in Recreation 2 of the World Collection in opposition to the New York Yankees.
“He seems actually robust,” Roberts mentioned. “I noticed some movies not too long ago and also you simply wouldn’t assume that there was any shoulder surgical procedure this previous winter.”
The Dodgers start reporting to spring camp in Arizona on Feb. 10.
“As of now, it looks as if I’m on schedule,” Ohtani mentioned by a translator. “I have been capable of work out every single day and I’m actually trying ahead to being on time for spring coaching and the season.”
Nevertheless, Ohtani mentioned he can’t pinpoint when precisely he’ll take the mound.
“The shoulder surgical procedure is a sophisticated surgical procedure in comparison with the elbow,” he mentioned, referring to his proper elbow surgical procedure in September 2023. “I needed to work on the vary of movement. There’s some residual impact within the labrum.”
Ohtani mentioned he’ll know extra after he throws his first bullpen session.
“Then I feel we’re going to actually get a really feel for after I’ll be capable of be on a giant league mound,” he mentioned.
Freddie Freeman
World Collection MVP Freddie Freeman mentioned he began hitting this week for the primary time since having ankle surgical procedure on Dec. 5. The primary baseman partially chipped off cartilage, which floated to his Achilles tendon proper above his ankle.
“It was fairly a nasty damage I had,” he mentioned.
Freeman has but to be cleared to start out operating and would not assume he’ll seem in early spring coaching video games. “As of proper now, I am on observe to have the ability to play in Tokyo,” he mentioned.
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw has begun a throwing development and he and the group are involved to finalize a contract for the upcoming season.
The three-time Cy Younger Award winner, who turns 37 subsequent month, had foot and knee surgical procedures on Nov. 7. His season ended early due to a left massive toe damage, which by no means received higher and stored him out of the postseason.
Days earlier than the operations, he declined his participant choice for this yr and have become a free agent.
Kiké Hernández
Dodgers followers registered their help to carry again utilityman Kiké Hernández by chanting his identify throughout fan fest.
Common supervisor Brandon Gomes indicated the group remains to be contemplating signing him.
“Clearly, we’ve by no means closed the door to Kiké,” Gomes mentioned. “A number of it’s simply ensuring he and his household really feel prefer it’s the most effective place for him. We’ll have these conversations.”
Roberts extension
Roberts is heading into the ultimate season of his present contract and the group is speaking to him about an extension, Gomes mentioned.
He final signed a three-year take care of the group in March 2022. He received NL supervisor of the yr honors in 2016, his first season with the Dodgers. Roberts has a regular-season file of 851-506 and has led the group to the postseason yearly since he joined the group. They’ve received 4 NL pennants and two World Collection titles.
Roberts was closely criticized after consecutive first-round playoff losses in 2022 and 2023. However overcoming a slew of accidents after which beating the Yankees within the World Collection final yr has alleviated that.
“It is good to be preferred,” he mentioned.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Copyright 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.