The Los Angeles Dodgers held their annual DodgerFest event last week, which represents the unofficial start of the new season for players and fans alike.
Shohei Ohtani was among the players who participated in the festivities and drew loud cheers from the fans at Dodger Stadium. The 31-year-old touched on several topics at DodgerFest, including whether or not he will pitch for Team Japan in this year’s World Baseball Classic.
Dodgers pitchers and catchers aren’t due to report to Camelback Ranch for the start of Spring Training until Feb. 13, but Ohtani has to arrive a little earlier since he is playing in the WBC.
The four-time MVP regularly reports to Spring Training ahead of the mandatory date, and that is no different this year. Japanese reporter Masaya Kotani spotted Ohtani throwing on the fields at Camelback Ranch.
アリゾナ州グレンデールで自主トレ💨
キャッチボール🔥#LetsGoDodgers #ShoheiOhtani #侍ジャパン #WBC pic.twitter.com/VRhXLiYLQM
— Masaya Kotani (@MasayaKotani) February 4, 2026
アリゾナ州グレンデールで自主トレ💨
壁当て❗️#LetsGoDodgers #ShoheiOhtani #侍ジャパン #WBC pic.twitter.com/hassgy5Dum
— Masaya Kotani (@MasayaKotani) February 4, 2026
#ドジャース #ダルトン・ラッシング 捕手⚾️
キャンプ施設で自主トレ🎥
こちらもダッシュ💨💨💨#LetsGoDodgers #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/THxpPWIkpV
— Masaya Kotani (@MasayaKotani) February 4, 2026
キャンプ施設で自主トレ🎥
ダッシュ💨💨💨#LetsGoDodgers #dodgers pic.twitter.com/9vT2JlDIyk
— Masaya Kotani (@MasayaKotani) February 4, 2026
Ohtani is entering his first full season with the Dodgers as a two-way player after returning to the mound last year. The club took a methodical approach to building him up, and he wound up logging 67.1 innings between the regular season and postseason.
Ohtani is expected to be part of a six-man rotation this season that should continue giving him extra rest in between starts.
2026 Dodgers Spring Training schedule
The 2026 Dodgers Spring Training schedule begins Saturday, Feb. 21, with a road game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
That’s followed by facing the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex on Sunday before the Dodgers have their Cactus League home opener in 2026 against the Seattle Mariners on Feb. 23.
The Dodgers are scheduled to play 28 Cactus League games in a span of 27 days. Included in that stretch is a split-squad matchup with the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs on Feb. 28, and another against those same teams on March 15.
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