Shohei Ohtani Reveals Next Step in His Hitting Progression at Dodgers Camp

Ohtani seems to be making real progress in his injury recovery.

The Dodgers' signing of Shohei Ohtani was one of the biggest in years and has brought a ton of extra attention to the organization. While he won't be pitching this season while recovering from a torn UCL, he is expected to be the designated hitter for the team.

There were some questions about what the status of Ohtani would be for the opening series in Korea against the San Diego Padres, but Ohtani cleared the air about that last weekend. He is expected to play as the designated hitter, which will mark his Dodgers debut. 

The two-way superstar is now revealing that he is swinging with almost 100% effort, another sign that his injury progress is going smoothly. He will be facing live arms or velocity from a machine soon, which will mark the next step in the process.

Shohei Ohtani said he is swinging with almost 100% effort now. The next step in his ramp-up will be facing live arms and/or velocity from a machine

He thinks balancing his hitting and pitching rehab will be easier this year, after experiencing something similar in 2019 https://t.co/xsaHoIMEIg

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) February 9, 2024

This is incredible news from Ohtani, which is great to hear from the Dodgers' perspective. Having a healthy Ohtani, at least at the plate, will go a long way in the success of Los Angeles this season.

He has already gone through an injury like this, so he understands how to get his body back into a good place. It's unfortunate that he suffered it again, but at least now he knows what to expect.

The Dodgers are loaded across the board of their roster, with Ohtani being the biggest star of the show. The team has legitimate title aspirations, and the pressure is now on them to get over the hump once again.

The front office has done all it can to put the team in a strong position to win the World Series. The Dodgers are motivated to prove everyone wrong, with Ohtani leading the charge in the lineup.