Dodgers Reveal Clue Where Will Shohei Ohtani Hit in Opening Day Lineup

His spring training debut finally arrives — and his place in the lineup might come as a surprise.

Shohei Ohtani's spring training debut finally arrived Tuesday, and it was the substance of national and international headlines. Since camp broke, two questions have surrounded the Dodgers and their $700 million player: when will he be cleared to play in Cactus League games, and where will he bat in the lineup?

Tuesday, we learned the answer to both questions.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts penciled Ohtani into the number-2 slot in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch, behind only Mookie Betts and ahead of Freddie Freeman:

Shohei Ohtani is batting second in his spring Dodgers debut today

Dave Roberts said that would be a hint for where he bats in the regular season pic.twitter.com/gYYxbu8dSN

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) February 27, 2024

Betts and Freeman batted 1-2 last year when both were healthy. Now the Dodgers' vaunted duo will have to make room for a new number two. As manager Dave Roberts has suggested, there's a decent chance that won't change between now and Opening Day.

Ohtani routinely batted first, second and third during his six seasons with the Angels. However, he performed best as a number-2 hitter, with a 1.013 career OPS in the spot.

Ohtani had major surgery on his right elbow last season, which will keep him off the mound in the first year of the 10-year, $700 million contract he signed with the Dodgers in December.

So far, Ohtani has had only minimal delays to his hitting routine in his first spring training camp with the Dodgers. While some wondered whether Ohtani would be ready for the start of the regular season March 20, the rehabilitation process only cost the reigning American League MVP five Cactus League games.

Now, the Dodgers will get their first look at Ohtani in their own uniform — and they'll only have to wait through one Mookie Betts plate appearance to see him.