- MLB. Dodgers dominate opening spring training game with explosive 8-run first inning against the Padres
- MLB. Dodgers announce when Shohei Ohtani will make his debut this Spring Training
Los Angeles Dodgers have been stacking up on their roster because for some reason, they think signing Shohei Ohtani wasn't enough. Although he underwent surgery that will prevent him from pitching until 2025, we still have that slugger with the potential to break any of the established home run records. Since he came back to camp, it was evident he would be the star player at bat but he needed to showcase it in the spring training games. That is exactly what he did on the very first game against the Chicago White Sox. It was a two-run homer at the bottom of the fifth. People went wild after watching that unique swing return. It's clear that we may get to hear that distinct sound multiple times this season.
Can Shohei Ohtani have a historic batting season?
We need to take under consideration the factors that place Shohei Ohtani in a new season and all the details from it. First of all, he was leading the charts last season both at bat and on the mound. He is the first two-way player with an unusual level of success on both ends since Babe Ruth. So yes, Shohei Ohtani is a sporting phenomenon and people obviously want to see him perform equally well in both areas. But the recent injury he suffered needed surgery and the Dodgers were aware of this before they signed him. That wasn't a problem because of what he did today, how he responded to the questions that emerged about him confirm his new team made the right choice.
Now comes the biggest question of them all. Not pitching would certainly make people expect for his batting numbers to go up. Given that he is not splitting his energy into two different aspects of the game, the natural order of things would be to hope Ohtani can break a few batting records this season. If he does this, we may well be on the verge of a historic MLB season that is about to begin. Amid all the big names of sluggers in multiple teams, we expect a great battle to unsue and get a taste of what the good old days in the '90s felt like. Who will be the players that challenge Shohei Ohtani in the home run department?