Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Exceeds Expectations in First Bullpen Session
PHOENIX — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has high expectations for Shohei Ohtani this season, and the superstar two-way player is already exceeding them. As pitchers and catchers went through their first official workouts at Camelback Ranch, Ohtani showcased his skills in a bullpen session, leaving a lasting impression on his manager.
“I came into camp at the beginning of February,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton following the session. “This is my third bullpen with pretty good intensity. … I’m not really sure how I’ll be able to practice in the WBC setting, so I’m going to try to ramp up as much as I can to a point where I’m throwing a live BP, which should be next week.” Ohtani’s dedication to his craft is evident, and his hard work is expected to pay off in the upcoming season.
Ohtani’s Road to Recovery and Preparation for the Season
The 2026 season will be Ohtani’s third year with the Dodgers, and his first pitching without restrictions. Fully recovered from his second Tommy John surgery, Ohtani was able to enjoy a regular, albeit short, offseason. With Ohtani in full bloom, Roberts has even higher hopes for the four-time MVP in the coming season. “I think there’s certainly a lot more in there, and regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those,” Roberts said Friday.
Ohtani’s highest placement in Cy Young Award voting came in 2022, when, still a member of the Angels, he finished fourth after logging 15 wins, a 2.33 ERA and a 1.012 WHIP across 166 innings pitched. Ohtani suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament the following season, requiring Tommy John surgery. His road to recovery has been long, but he is now focused on being healthy the whole year and making a significant impact on the team.
“If the end result is getting a Cy Young, that’s great,” Ohtani said. “Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and pitch throughout the whole season, so if that’s the end result, that’s a good sign for me. I’m just focused on being healthy the whole year.” Ohtani appeared in 14 games last season, logging 47 innings pitched. Roberts liked what he saw in the small sample size and is excited to see Ohtani perform without restrictions.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Throws Live BP and Other Notable Performances
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a live batting practice Friday as the World Series MVP took the mound for the first time since he recorded the final out of last year’s Fall Classic. Yamamoto threw 20 pitches to a pair of his teammates, with right-handed hitting catcher Will Smith and left-handed hitting infielder Hyeseong Kim alternating at-bats. Kim turned on a pair of fastballs from Yamamoto, ripping a pair of base hits into right field.
Roberts was asked by reporters about Yamamoto’s durability, coming off a postseason where the 27-year-old totaled 526 pitches, capped off by a Herculean effort in Game 7 that powered the Dodgers to their second straight World Series championship. “I just believe that he knows his limitations and he’s prepared, so I’m not too concerned about it,” Roberts said. Yamamoto wasn’t the only pitcher to see some run on the Dodgers’ first day of camp, with other notable performances from veteran Tyler Glasnow, promising sophomore Roki Sasaki, playoff hero Will Klein, newcomer Edwin Díaz, and Ohtani.
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