‘Dodgersman’ Shohei Ohtani “I will Act Like a Rookie… Batting Training Intensity is 100%”
“Greetings to the club officials first… Please understand if I say hello again without remembering.”
‘The best active baseball star’ Shohei Otani (29, Los Angeles Dodgers) stood in front of numerous reporters wearing the blue training uniform symbolizing the American professional baseball Dodgers.
Ohtani’s interview scene adorned the main screen of Major League Baseball’s official website.
Ohtani lightly trained at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, USA on the 10th (Korean time).
On this day, the Dodgers began official training for the pitching and catching teams and the rehabilitation team.
In interviews with MLB.com in the U.S. and Nikkan Sports in Japan,
Ohtani said, “I will start anew with a new team and act like a rookie.” 바카라사이트
Ohtani, who caused a syndrome in the major leagues by working as a pitcher,
signed a 10-year contract with the Dodgers worth 700 million dollars (about 925.5 billion won) after the 2023 season.
Ohtani’s every move is considered the most important news in the major leagues recently.
However, Ohtani said, “At the Dodgers, I’m like a rookie.
“First of all, I have to get used to my teammates and the new environment,” he said.
“I go to the club officials first and say hello.
“It would be nice if you could remember everyone in one meeting,
but I hope you understand if you don’t remember the first greeting and say the second one,” he said politely.
Ohtani, who wore the Los Angeles Angels uniform in 2021 and 2023
and was selected as the best player in the American League (AL) after showing great success in two-bats,
will only play as a hitter this year.
Ohtani underwent right elbow surgery in September of last year.
MLB.com reported, “Ohtani is rehabilitating as a pitcher and preparing for actual play as a hitter.”
Ohtani said calmly, “It’s not the first time I’ve prepared for a season as a batter and rehabilitated as a pitcher.
Now that I understand the process, I can train more comfortably than before.”
He also underwent elbow surgery in October 2018, and rehabbed as a pitcher and batsman in 2019.
Preparations to play in the opening game as a batsman are going smoothly.
Ohtani said, “I am training close to 100% on my hitting training.
I have reached the stage where I can hit the pitcher’s balls.”
Ohtani, who participated in the Dodgers Fan Festival held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 4th and said,
“I am confident that I will participate in the opening game,”
also expressed his “willingness to participate in the opening game.”
Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, hired by the Dodgers, threw 21 pitches from the bullpen that day.
As Ohtani and Yamamoto conducted official spring camp training at the same time, interest in the two grew.
Shohei Ohtani welcomed saying,
“This is my first time playing on the same team as a Japanese player since advancing to the major leagues.
Having a Japanese player has the advantage of being able to talk comfortably,
and there are many opportunities to talk as we share lockers next to each other.”
He was also considerate of other Dodgers teammates saying,
“I am one of the team members with a goal.
I want to have a good relationship with everyone in the Dodgers.”