National League MVP Shohei Ohtani said Thursday he will try to resume his two-way role when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the 2025 season in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs.
“I’m looking at Opening Day, and I want to throw and hit right from the start,” said Ohtani, who unanimously received the third MVP award of his career that same day.
Ohtani undergoes surgery after baseball injury
When Ohtani underwent surgery in early November to repair a torn labrum resulting from a left shoulder dislocation suffered during the World Series, baseball observers expected his return to the mound might be delayed.
However, the Japanese star has resumed core and lower body training to get back into the dual role.
The World Series champion Dodgers face the Cubs in the season-opening two-game series on March 18 and 19 at the Tokyo Dome.
The Cubs have two Japanese players, left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga and outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
In 2024, Ohtani, unable to throw after his second right elbow surgery, became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. He finished the season with 54:59 points.
“My job is to pitch and play hitter, but I knew I couldn’t do both this year,” Ohtani said. “So I wanted to be good enough offensively that I could compensate for not being able to throw.
Ohtani was the unanimous American League MVP in 2021 and 2023 when he established himself as a two-way player with the Los Angeles Angels. As a pitcher, he has a career record of 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA in 86 starts.
When asked about his relationship with manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani said: “After just a few months, I felt like I had been working with him for years. “He created a pleasant playing environment.”
