Is Shohei Ohtani playing today for the Dodgers against the Padres? Injury update

The Los Angeles Dodgers, one of the most successful Major League Baseball teams in recent years, are all set to take on the San Diego Padres in the second Game of the Spring Training season at the Camelback Ranch–Glendale baseball complex in Phoenix, Arizona. Interestingly, the same two teams will also face each other in the regular season opener in Korea on March 20 (a two-Game set), which promises to be an exciting affair. In their opening Game of the season, the Dodgers dominated their Californian MLB counterpart 14-1.

The Dodgers have been the team to beat in their division, winning it an incredible ten times in the last eleven years. They are expected to maintain their winning ways this year, thanks to their strong batting lineup, which includes the likes of Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, and Cody Bellinger, and their solid pitching rotation, led by Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer and Walker Buehler, among others.

What about the most expensive player in the world of baseball?

The baseball season is just around the corner, and fans are excited to see their favorite players in action. However, one player we won’t see pitching or batting this spring training season is Shohei Ohtani. He had won the American League MVP award unanimously for the second time last year, but unfortunately, he suffered a torn UCL injury last August. As a result, he will only play as a designated hitter this season and resume pitching duties next year. Despite his injury, Ohtani is determined to make the most of his time on the field. He recently told reporters he aims to get 50 total at-bats during spring training ahead of the Dodgers’ March 20 regular-season opener. However, he won’t be playing in the first spring training Game and believes he has enough time to achieve his target. Ohtani is “trending in the right direction,” and he is confident that he will achieve his goal of 50 total at-bats.

It’s important to note that Ohtani won’t count just game-time at-bats towards his goal. Instead, he will count at-bats in live batting practice and off a Dodgers’ high-tech pitching machine. This will help him progress toward his target and prepare for the upcoming season. Ohtani’s determination to make a comeback after his injury shows his commitment to his team and fans. We hope to see him back on the pitching mount soon and wish him all the best for the upcoming season.