Breaking: $700 million worth Superstar Takes Batting Practice in Full Los Angeles Dodgers Uniform

Now a few months removed from undergoing elbow surgery, Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani continues to work his way back to full strength at Spring Training.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ $700 million man is with his new club down in Glendale, Arizona, and he’s getting more and more work in at the plate as Spring Training ramps up.

Shohei Ohtani, who suffered a UCL injury late in the 2023 regular season, was shown taking batting practice in full uniform in a video posted by the Dodgers on social media Friday. Earlier this week, Ohtani was lauded for hitting 10 home runs during a lighter session, and now he seems to be taking more steps towards a full recovery.

Ohtani is fresh off his second AL MVP Award in three years, earning both honors as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. A record-breaking contract brought Ohtani up the I-405, and he now enters 2024 donning Dodger blue.

Over the last three seasons, Ohtani is a .277 hitter with a .964 OPS. He is averaging 41 home runs, 97 RBI, 19 stolen bases and a 9.5 WAR a year in that span.

Part of the reason Ohtani’s WAR has been so high is because he is a two-way player, and his production on the mound has been top-notch in its own right. He is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA, 1.082 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings in his career as an MLB pitcher.

The Japanese-born superstar likely won’t pitch at all in 2024, as a result of his elbow injury, but that won’t keep him from continuing to slug at the plate. The Dodgers are hopeful Ohtani will be ready in time for Opening Day in South Korea on March 20.

Dodgers News: How Dave Roberts Views All the Extra Media Attention Around Shohei Ohtani

The Dodgers’ addition of Shohei Ohtani this offseason made waves throughout Major League Baseball. Not only did they sign him to a record contract, but he now lands in one of the biggest media markets in the world. The city of Los Angeles always has media coverage around it, so they aren’t new to attention. But for the Dodgers, Ohtani has brought a newfound reality to the team that many likely never expected. “But while the Dodgers have certainly generated attention in the past, no spring — and no player — has drawn anything quite like this.” Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic

Ohtani is the biggest star in the game of baseball today while also being a worldwide sensation as well. The attention that he brings is unlike anything the Dodgers have seen. Manager Dave Roberts said that this would take some getting used to, but it’s nothing that the team can’t handle. “It’s going to be a learning curve for everyone. But I think that part of my messaging to the players is going to be, it comes with the territory. I think that the expectations of winning, the expectations of answering questions when you don’t feel like it, it’s part of the job.”

Ohtani is the biggest star in the game of baseball today while also being a worldwide sensation as well. The attention that he brings is unlike anything the Dodgers have seen. Manager Dave Roberts said that this would take some getting used to, but it’s nothing that the team can’t handle. “It’s going to be a learning curve for everyone. But I think that part of my messaging to the players is going to be, it comes with the territory.

I think that the expectations of winning, the expectations of answering questions when you don’t feel like it, it’s part of the job.” Per Dave Roberts via The Athletic With Spring Training just starting up, Los Angeles can use this new attention to get accustomed to his presence.

The media is going to be around far more often than normal, so it’s something they will have to deal with. This is the new reality. The Dodgers were always going to draw attention, especially after spending as aggressively as they did this past winter. This offseason, of course, was different. Ohtani is different, in Japan and in the greater consciousness, a celebrity who transcends his sport in multiple countries but particularly back home.” Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic