Shohei Ohtani is likely to have two or three at-bats when he makes his highly anticipated spring training debut Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
The Japanese superstar is "right on schedule" in his recovery from a second major elbow surgery in September and ready to go for the Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox in Arizona, according to the skipper.
"Sho is excited to get out there and play some baseball. So you know, the plan is to get him two, three at-bats. You know, whatever he feels is good enough for that day," Roberts said Monday.
"I think that for all of us as coaches, players, and certainly the fans are excited to see Sho don that Dodger uniform."
The Dodgers have not announced where Ohtani, who signed a record 10-year, $700 million deal this winter, will hit in the batting order as designated hitter.
After winning his second American League MVP as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels last year, he plans to stay off the mound until the 2025 season.
Ohtani practiced behind closed doors Monday ahead of his first competitive game since the surgery.
Roberts said the 29-year-old was in charge of his own preparation for the upcoming MLB season, which the Dodgers will open against the San Diego Padres in Seoul on March 20.
"I'm resolved to just giving him the latitude and trusting that he and the training staff, the hitting (coaches), know what he needs to get ready," Roberts said.
The Dodgers' other prized offseason signing, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is set to make his spring training debut the day after Ohtani.
The team has scheduled the former Orix Buffaloes ace to pitch two innings Wednesday against the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers.
Yamamoto has been drawing big crowds to his bullpen sessions at Dodgers camp and will be the center of attention in his first outing against an opposing MLB club.
The three-time winner of the Sawamura Award for Japan's most outstanding starting pitcher joined the Dodgers on a 12-year, $325 million deal -- the most valuable ever given in MLB to a pitcher.
