Shohei Ohtani Teases Outfield Return – But Will Surgery Recovery Timeline Allow That in 2024?

The iconic day has finally arrived as the Japanese ace, Shohei Ohtani, made his attention-grabbing debut as a Dodgers after signing a staggering 10-year deal for $700 million, which has been the center of discussion throughout the 2023 off-season. The fans and the national and international media were eager to encounter Ohtani’s magic on the Cactus League debut. However, the phenom made another move to indicate something special was in store for the world.

Though Ohtani is set to be the designated hitter for the entire 2024 season following his UCL injury, during Spring Training, he remarked on bringing the outfield gloves with him to the camp. It raised speculation about his appearance as an outfielder. Will he limit his two-way skills for the entire year, or does he have some other plans?

Does Ohtani have something special in store for the Dodgers’ fans?

Shohei Ohtani is one of the best MLB icons in the current era, with the unique trait of hitting and pitching simultaneously. Though the world keeps cherishing his on-field prowess, it also involves the risk of getting injured frequently. He also couldn’t escape the obvious, causing him to undergo surgery for a torn UCL and furthermore leading him to be the designated hitter for the 2024 season with his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But recently, he admitted to the media that he is carrying his outfielder gloves with him, giving way to some certain questions regarding his appearance as an outfielder in the current season. The star has mentioned that he intends to help his team in any way possible, and thus, he is carrying his outfield gloves with him to the camp.

However, he doesn’t have certain plans for pitching, but at the same time, he can’t overlook the possibilities, prompting him to carry one of his best pieces of equipment, the gloves, with him. Although the concern remains persistent, with his right elbow injury, will the fans be able to see his two-way skills any time soon?

After two historic seasons in 2021 and 2022, Ohtani remained the exception in the 2023 season until August 23, when he was removed from the start against the Reds with “arm fatigue.” Later, the injury opened the door for the second potential Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old phenom had his first surgery on October 1, 2018, after which he returned to the mound on July 26, 2020.

Although the next two seasons were iconic for the Japanese star, he had to put a halt on his performance due to his second surgery in 2023, prompting him to be a designated hitter for the entire season in 2024. Now that he is debuting with his new team, what is his team’s plan for him?

The Dodgers are looking forward to a better future

When asked about his team’s forethought on the matter, the team’s manager, Roberts Dave, mentioned that they currently don’t have any potential plans to see him in the outfielder position. As they intend to see him physically fit for their contract’s remaining nine seasons, they plan to keep him bound within the hitting boundary. Additionally, when asked about their newest superstar addition, Roberts remarked, “With Shohei, as I’m learning quickly, he’s built differently,” indicating his mesmerization.

Read More: Shohei Ohtani Goes Yard in Debut Under Mega Deal: Analyzing His 2024 Projections

On Tuesday, he was in the No. 2 spot for the match against the White Sox, and like always, he demonstrated his charisma on the very first match with a 1-for-3 homer and two RBIs, leading his team to claim the first victory of the season.

Now, given his focus remains only on hitting for the current season, fans will have more heightened aspirations to encounter Sho-time magic on the field.

Read More: LA Dodgers Embrace Shohei Ohtani’s Meticulous Recovery Approach, Two-Way Phenom’s Detailed Methods Re-Emerge