The Video of Shohei Ohtani’s First BP With the Dodgers Is Mesmerizing

Shohei Ohtani took batting practice for the time as a member of the Dodgers and the video is amazing.

Shohei Ohtani’s seismic move to the Los Angeles Dodgers is finally starting to feel real. 

The Dodgers were the first team to have their players report to spring training this season. While every other team in the league will hold its first workout for pitchers and catchers on Wednesday or Thursday, the Dodgers held their first workout last Friday. Ohtani, who’s recovering from an offseason elbow surgery that will prevent him from pitching this season, didn’t take part in his first baseball activities until Monday—but it was worth the wait. 

The team shared a video of him taking batting practice for the first time in Dodger blue, and it was spectacular. 

Wow, Shohei. 😳 pic.twitter.com/ifYb2cHVzY

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 12, 2024

Putting the viewer that close to the action means you can really hear the crack of the bat as Ohtani crushes ball after ball. It’s also captivating to watch him turn on a pitch and pull it to deep right-center. 

The BP session wasn’t just a joy to watch, it was also an important step for Ohtani. He told reporters after that it was his first time hitting outside a cage since the oblique injury that ended his season in September.