Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani began his first spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, as the club gets an early start to a season that will begin March 20 in Seoul with two games against the San Diego Padres.
Ohtani was seen at the Dodgers' facility outside Phoenix on Thursday, two days after Japanese compatriot Yoshinobu Yamamoto began working out at Camelback Ranch. Ohtani has resumed taking batting practice after last year's right-elbow surgery that will prevent him from pitching this year.
The two players will likely be in the spotlight after joining the Dodgers on record contracts over the winter.
Ohtani, a two-time American League MVP and the AL's 2023 home run leader, signed Major League Baseball's richest contract, $700 million over 10 years.
Yamamoto moved to MLB from Japan's Orix Buffaloes via the posting system. His 12-year $325 million deal is the largest ever handed to a pitcher.
The Padres' Japanese pitchers, Yu Darvish and Yuki Matsui, are set to begin their first official workouts Sunday, as San Diego, too, gets an early start in nearby Peoria. The Dodgers and Padres are due to play their first preseason exhibition against each other, on Feb. 22.
Pitchers and catchers for MLB's other 28 teams will begin working out starting next Wednesday in Arizona and Florida.
