Shohei Ohtani made his second Cactus League start on Friday night and delivered an RBI single to help the Los Angeles Dodgers earn a comeback win against the Cleveland Guardians.
In his first start, Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in his final at-bat against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. The two-way star hasn’t shown a lack of power, displaying his ability to hit the long ball in both batting practice and game action.
Ohtani hasn’t laid out a plan, publicly, for his build up in camp, maintaining that he’s more concerned with completing games without any problems.
“I’m not too focused on going back-to-back at this point,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “I’m more focused on each at-bat, making sure my intensity level is there, and making sure my physique and recovery is going on.”
Ohtani previously set a goal of 50 at-bats to be ready for the regular season, to which he believes he’s on the right track.
“I’m around 20 at-bats right now and I feel like it’s going to be pretty easy to get to that target of 50,” Ohtani said. “Like I said earlier, I just want to keep the intensity up and make sure my body is feeling strong.”
The Dodgers have to keep in mind that their Spring Training schedule is shortened a bit, with the Seoul Series in South Korea accelerating the normal timeline. Ohtani and the Dodgers front office have accounted for that, which is why his at-bat target could come in Cactus League play, simulated games, live batting practice or their indoor facilities.
How high is ceiling for Shohei Ohtani in 2024?
All things considered, Ohtani is on track to again be among the league leaders in multiple offensive categories. Joining the Dodgers lineup provides him with two running mates for an MVP Award, also providing him with run producing opportunities.
Now in the National League, Ohtani has a new slate of pitchers to get used to, but as a top hitter in baseball, he shouldn’t have much issue adapting. The blend of Interleague play has made that transition much easier, as well.
Ohtani powering an opposite field home run in his Dodgers Spring Training debut gave fans, teammates, and spectators much to talk about, also a look into what to expect. His offensive game is that of an MVP, by itself, and the upcoming year should have similar benchmarks than in seasons past.
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