Is Shohei Ohtani playing today for the Dodgers against the Rockies? 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 Colorado Rockies in the third Game of the Spring Training season at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (located in the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale, Arizona).

The Dodgers have been the team to beat in their division, winning it an incredible ten times in the last eleven years and 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 baseball’s most expensive player in the world?

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 with the Japanese star still recovering from a torn elbow UCL injury last August.

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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.

“The plan is at some time to get him into a Cactus League Game,” said the Dodgers last week manager. “He’s doing great! He’s taken his swings, taken his at-bats, he does a great job getting himself ready.”