Will Shohei Ohtani be ready for opening day? What’s his injury status?

Shohei Ohtani underwent ‘Tommy John’ surgery on September 19. As a result, he won’t be able to pitch during his first year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, this won’t stop the dual threat from hitting during the 2024 Major League Baseball season. The good news is that his recovery has accelerated, as confirmed by manager Dave Roberts.

During his first batting practice at Camelback Ranch last Friday, the Japanese superstar showed great power when attacking pitches and hit 13 home runs. This was the first time that Ohtani practiced in public since signing with the Dodgers. His performance left everyone present with their mouths open.

He made good impressions in his first practice

Dave Roberts spoke at the end of training and said that the Japanese superstar could be ready to debut on February 22 when they face the San Diego Padres at the start of spring training. The Dodgers remain in Arizona before starting the 2024 MLB campaign in South Korea.

“I think it’s too early to pressure Shohei Ohtani, but I think he would be ready for the season opener. But we will see how he progresses each day, and when he is ready, he will be ready. Every week, he has been improving and is making a lot of progress in his rehab,” Dave Roberts said. “He is recovering ahead of schedule and has been working very hard to get to this point. But this doesn’t mean he will be ready to debut in the ‘Cactus League’ next week, and I don’t have an answer for that. I can say that he is getting better and feeling better and better,” he added.