Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani Provides Health Update After Live Batting Practice Session

The superstar slugger is right on schedule.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' spring training ends earlier than normal this season due to their trip to Seoul, South Korea. The Boy in Blue will head to Seoul for their two-game mini-series against the division rivals San Diego Padres on March 14.

It's good for fans because Dodger baseball will be here soon enough, but it's not ideal for some players dealing with injuries that could keep them out for that two-game series. However, that may not be the case for their two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani provided a health update after another live batting practice session on Wednesday. He told reporters including dodgersnation.com's Noah Camras that he believes he has more than enough time to get the 50-bats he wants to hit during spring training.

“I feel like I have more than enough time to get to 50 at-bats,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. "There’s not a huge difference within a game or inside. The main thing I’m looking for is the timing aspect, when I’m late on pitches or early, how my body reacts, how my bat reacts. There’s not too big of a difference.”

Shohei Ohtani said he believes he’s not ahead of schedule, but right on schedule in his recovery.

He says he has more than enough time to get ready for Opening Day.

He’s counting his live at-bats towards the 50 minimum he spoke about with Dave Roberts. pic.twitter.com/IwLbhjxDwi

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) February 21, 2024

The 29-year-old also said he feels great and is right on schedule to play as soon as the season rolls around. 

“I don’t really feel like it’s ahead of schedule. I feel like we’re right on schedule, which is a really good thing,” Ohtani said. “And my body is reacting really well so far. So everything is trending in the right direction... I’m feeling good at the plate, seeing the ball well. Otherwise there’s nothing there. So it’s a really good sign.”

Ohtani will not pitch in 2024 after suffering a UCL injury in August 2023, but he'll be the full-time designated hitter for Los Angeles in 2024 and beyond.

Here's the full Ohtani interview from Wednesday courtesy of the Dodgers Nation YouTube channel: