Shohei Ohtani

Fantasy News

• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Launches first homer of 2025

  Rotowire Mar 19, 2025

  Ohtani went 1-for-3 with solo home run and two walks during Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Cubs in Tokyo. After hitting a career-high 54 homers during the regular season in his first year as a Dodger in 2024, Ohtani didn't take long to deliver his first long ball of this season. The three-time MVP reached multiple times in each of the first two games of the season and has gone 3-for-8 with two walks, a double, a homer and three runs scored.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Scores twice Opening Day

  Rotowire Mar 18, 2025

  Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and a strikeout in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo. The Japanese superstar was unable to deliver a home run in the first official game back in his home country, but he still produced as a leadoff man in the season opener. Ohtani recently slowed his pitching progression in order to ramp up his preparations as a hitter for Opening Day, but he's still expected to join the starting rotation sometime in May. For now, the 30-year-old will continue to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter as he works his way back from November shoulder surgery.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: At-bats, steals likely down in 2025

  Rotowire Mar 10, 2025

  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said earlier this spring that he doesn't think Ohtani will receive as many plate appearances or steal as many bases this season, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. Roberts noted that, from a "performance per plate appearance" perspective, he expects the reigning National League MVP to be just as productive. However, because Ohtani is pitching this season, the manager plans to play him a bit less at designated hitter, and he does not anticipate Ohtani being as aggressive on the bases because "he does need to pitch and (save) his legs." Ohtani stole 59 bases in 2024 after stealing a total of 57 over the previous three seasons. While Ohtani is probably not going to fall back to his previous levels, it does sound like fantasy managers should not be expecting him to run wild in 2025. Ohtani, who is coming back from left shoulder surgery, will be ready to DH during the Dodgers' March 18-19 series in Tokyo versus the Cubs and is expected to join the rotation sometime in May.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Slowing down pitching rehab

  Rotowire Mar 6, 2025

  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Thursday that Ohtani will not face hitters as a pitcher leading up to the season-opening series in Japan so that he can ramp up his preparations as a hitter, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Ohtani threw his last bullpen Feb. 25. He has continued to playing catch, but the organization is giving him a pause from ramping up his pitching so he can intensify his hitting. Roberts also talked about May as a potential time for Ohtani's return to pitching but added that they "just don't know" when the NL MVP will be able to take the mound, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Homers in first spring at-bat

  Rotowire Mar 1, 2025

  Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a Cactus League win over the Angels on Friday. Ohtani didn't take long to remind the baseball world about his 2024 MVP season, as he hit an opposite-field home run on the sixth pitch he saw during his first at-bat this spring. The two-way star's subsequent plate appearances were less dramatic, as he popped out in the second inning and struck out in the fifth. Ohtani is expected to begin the regular season strictly in a hitting role, but manager Dave Roberts said in early February that he expects Ohtani to be pitching in big-league games by May.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Making Cactus League debut Friday

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2025

  Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) will make his Cactus League debut at designated hitter Friday versus the Angels, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. Ohtani has been brought along slowly in camp after November surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder. It's not clear when he might be ready to pitch in a game, but he's ready to hit and is fully expected to serve as the Dodgers' DH for their season-opening set in Tokyo versus the Cubs on March 18 and 19.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Adds cutters in latest bullpen

  Rotowire Feb 24, 2025

  Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) threw 25 pitches, including some cutters, in a bullpen session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Manager Dave Roberts described Ohtani's inclusion of cutters in the throwing session as a "big step." Roberts also noted that Ohtani touched 95 mph during the bullpen, which is only a few ticks below his average fastball velocity in 2023, his most recent campaign on the mound. Ohtani appears to be on track to make his highly anticipated debut as a pitcher for the Dodgers sometime around the beginning of May.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Facing live pitching Friday

  Rotowire Feb 21, 2025

  Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) will face live pitching Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. It hasn't been determined yet whether it will be against a pitcher or a Trajekt machine, but either way it will be the first time Ohtani has swung a bat against live pitching, or at least simulated live pitching from a robot, this spring. Ohtani is being brought along slowly after November surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder, and he is not expected to pitch until around May 1. However, there are no concerns about his availability as a designated hitter for the Dodgers' season-opening set in Tokyo versus the Cubs on March 18 and 19.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Planning to pitch out of windup

  Rotowire Feb 20, 2025

  Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) has thrown mostly out of a windup during his first two bullpen sessions this spring and plans to continue to do so during games this season, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. When asked if he intends to use a windup during games this year, Ohtani responded, "That's my plan...With increasing the intensity, I do want to see how the body responds, how I respond to it. As of now, that's the plan." Using a windup is a shift from his previous norm, as the two-way star threw almost exclusively out of the stretch during his time on the mound with the Angels. A study published in 2024 concluded that there's no significant difference in velocity or injury risk for pro hurlers pitching out of the stretch versus out of a windup, so there may not be a tangible fantasy impact on Ohtani's decision to change his approach.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Remaining in leadoff spot

  Rotowire Feb 20, 2025

  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Ohtani will remain the team's leadoff hitter this season, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. He'll be followed by Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez, which is the same top four in the lineup the Dodgers used down the stretch last season when all four were healthy. The reigning National League MVP, Ohtani batted .307/.392/.680 with 35 home runs and 44 stolen bases in 90 regular-season games out of the leadoff spot in 2024.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Hurls 14 pitches in bullpen session

  Rotowire Feb 16, 2025

  Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) threw 14 pitches in a bullpen session consisting of two-seam and four-seam fastballs Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. Per manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani's velocity sat in the 92-to-94 mph range during the throwing session, which pitching coach Mark Prior described as the two-way star "dipping his toe back in the water." The bullpen was Ohtani's first this spring, though he's been using his full arsenal while throwing from flat ground. Ohtani isn't expected to pitch in any Cactus League games and is unlikely to take the mound in a regular-season contest until around early May, but he should be in the Dodgers' lineup as a hitter when the team plays its opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo, Japan on March 18-19.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: First 'pen session set for weekend

  Rotowire Feb 12, 2025

  Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) said Wednesday that he expects to throw his first bullpen session of spring training this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Ohtani is on the mend from November surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder as well as the September 2023 Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, but the two-way phenom took batting practice Wednesday without issue and will be ready to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter for the team's two-game season-opening set in Tokyo versus the Cubs on March 18 and 19. Manager Dave Roberts recently suggested that the 30-year-old could make his 2025 debut as a pitcher at some point in May, as Ohtani is already throwing his full repertoire off flat ground during camp and will take another step forward by getting on a mound this weekend. However, Roberts noted earlier Wednesday that Ohtani won't be cleared to pitch in any Cactus League games, so the four-time All-Star looks as though he'll have to gradually build up his pitch count through simulated games this spring and during the early portion of the season while he continues to play regularly as a DH.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Expected to be pitching by May

  Rotowire Feb 1, 2025

  Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that having Ohtani (shoulder) pitching by May "sounds about right," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Ohtani has yet to take the mound for the Dodgers after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of 2023, and he underwent another procedure to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder after the World Series last year. While his hiatus from pitching will seemingly extend about a month into the regular season, there's been no indication that the two-way superstar's surgeries will prevent him from being part of Los Angeles' Opening Day lineup. Ohtani has already proven that rehabbing from surgery doesn't bother him much at the plate, as he slashed .310/.390/.646 while recording the first 50-50 season in MLB history en route to being unanimously named the National League's MVP -- all while recovering from his Tommy John procedure.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Unlikely to pitch in Tokyo

  Rotowire Dec 9, 2024

  Manager Dave Roberts stated he's unlikely to deploy Ohtani (shoulder) as a pitcher during the team's opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. The Dodgers are expected to exercise caution as the club brings him back to the mound following Tommy John surgery, so this report isn't a big surprise. Roberts also mentioned that once Ohtani is cleared to pitch, he expects to utilize the reigning MVP in the DH slot on the days he pitches.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Captures third MVP award

  Rotowire Nov 21, 2024

  Ohtani was unanimously named the National League's 2024 Most Value Player on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. In the first year of his record-setting contract with the Dodgers, Ohtani won his first MVP in the National League unanimously. Having won two MVPs with the Angels prior, the superstar has now won an MVP in three of the last four seasons. He did so without throwing a pitch for the entirety of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and became the first designated hitter to win the award. The 30-year-old produced the first ever 50-50 season in MLB history, and he fell just four points shy of a Triple Crown with a .310 average. While speaking with the media Thursday, Ohtani noted that his goal is to be cleared to pitch by Opening Day, but that both he and the Dodgers will take things cautiously as he recovers from the shoulder surgery he underwent after the World Series to repair a torn labrum, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Surgery likely to delay pitching

  Rotowire Nov 7, 2024

  Ohtani's left shoulder surgery is likely to delay his pitching debut for the Dodgers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. Ohtani underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, an injury he suffered during Game 2 of the World Series. While the expectation is that he will be ready to serve as a designated hitter during spring training and Opening Day, the timetable for Ohtani's first start on the mound for the Dodgers looks cloudy. The team elected to pause Ohtani's throwing program during the playoffs as he comes back from Tommy John surgery so as to not overtax him, and now the shoulder surgery will further delay his throwing program indefinitely. The Dodgers have a two-game series versus the Cubs in Japan from March 18-19 and then have their domestic opener against the Tigers on March 27. GM Brandon Gomes this week didn't rule out Ohtani being ready to pitch by the domestic opener, but Gomes "did not cast an optimistic picture of that possibility," per Harris. Ohtani was going to have workload restrictions in place on the mound in his first year back from Tommy John surgery anyway, so in that respect the delay isn't a huge deal. However, the situation creates an air of uncertainty with the two-way superstar's status. More clarity on Ohtani's situation should be available later in the offseason and into spring training.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Undergoes surgery on shoulder

  Rotowire Nov 5, 2024

  Ohtani underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. Ohtani's injury, which he suffered in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26, was initially described as a slight dislocation of his left shoulder. The labrum tear was a result of the dislocation, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. After suffering the injury, the NL MVP frontrunner recorded just one hit across 11 at-bats in the final three games of the series. The Dodgers expect he will be ready for spring training.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: In Game 3 lineup Monday

  Rotowire Oct 28, 2024

  Ohtani (shoulder) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff Monday in Game 3 of the World Series versus the Yankees, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. Ohtani was forced to depart Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday due to a left shoulder subluxation suffered on a slide into second base. However, an MRI confirmed that he doesn't have any structural damage and he was able to go through 80 percent of his daily routine Sunday without issue. Ohtani will not be allowed to attempt any stolen bases Monday and perhaps not for the remainder of the series, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go at the plate as the Dodgers try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: On track for Game 3

  Rotowire Oct 27, 2024

  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani (shoulder) is "in a great spot and will be playing" Monday in Game 3 of the World Series against the Yankees, Karl Ravech of ESPN reports. The presumed National League MVP suffered a left shoulder subluxation on a slide while trying to steal second base during Game 2 on Saturday, but it appears he'll be ready to go for Game 3 after undergoing an MRI. Ohtani has gone 13-for-50 (.260 average) with 12 walks, three homers, 10 RBI and 13 runs through his first 13 playoff games.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Suffers shoulder subluxation

  Rotowire Oct 26, 2024

  Ohtani suffered a left shoulder subluxation in the seventh inning of Saturday's 4-2 win over the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. He went 0-for-3 with a walk in the victory. Ohtani sustained the injury while trying to steal second base after reaching base on a walk. Manager Dave Roberts noted after the win that the strength in Ohtani's shoulder appeared to be good, but the NL MVP frontrunner is slated to undergo an MRI on Sunday. The upcoming tests should help determine whether Ohtani will be available for the remainder of the World Series.

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