PHOENIX — Fans lined up and raced around the back fields at the Los Angeles Dodgers spring-training complex Friday, shrieking at the sight of him.
Photographers lugged their equipment around the complex, scurrying to see where he was going to go next.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spent his media session talking about him more than anyone.
It was Day 1 of the Dodgers spring training camp, and once again, all the buzz was about Shohei Ohtani.
When will he pitch in spring training? When is he leaving for the World Baseball Classic? Are you sure he won’t pitch in the WBC? How can he prepare to pitch while he’s with Team Japan for three weeks? Will he continue to bat leadoff on the days he starts for the Dodgers? How often will he pitch this season? Is he the opening day starter?
So many questions, so few answers.
Yep, just like ol’ times.
The difference this year is that there will be no limitations on Ohtani. He is fully healthy after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries. He had a completely normal offseason where he was able to pitch, as well as hit. And he feels as strong as he ever has in his spectacular career.
“I think it’s fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation,’’ Roberts said, “but we just want him to be healthy, make starts, and all of the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves. But man, this guy is such a disciplined worker and expects the most from himself. …
“Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those.’’
Yes, when you’re the winner of four unanimous MVP awards − including three in a row − win two World Series championships, and are the only player to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in the same season, why not try to check off the final box on the Hall of Fame resume?
Cy Young award, anyone?
“If the end result is getting a Cy Young, that’s great,’’ Ohtani said. “Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season. So, if that’s the end result, that’s a good sign for me. What I’m more focused on is just being healthy the whole year.’’
Ohtani, 31, began pitching in games again last June, for the first time in 22 months. He pitched just 47 innings, yielding a 2.87 ERA, but not only was his 100-mph velocity back, so was his control, striking out 62 batters with nine walks.
And while he was coming back from his second Tommy John surgery in September 2023, and shoulder surgery in November 2024, he still hit 55 homers with 102 RBI, leading the National League with 146 runs with a slash line of .282/.392/.622.
“I think the thing that was most surprising was his command,’’ Roberts said, “and I’ll say that he still feels his command wasn’t up to par. But given the Tommy John (surgery) and what typically command looks like the year after … it was impressive. Just his ability to command the couple of different breaking balls, to change the shape of his breaking balls, was pretty impressive. Everything he does is with a purpose.
“So, I’m really excited to see with the full offseason to just prepare and not rehab, what he can do this year. … When you’re in rehab mode, it’s a little bit of survival going into the season as opposed to just going into a regular offseason preparing for the next season and not in the rebab mode.
“We’ll see what it looks like, but I’m pretty encouraged on both sides of the baseball.’’
Ohtanti concedes he felt fatigue as a two-way player in the playoffs for the first time. He hit eight homers with 14 RBI as the Dodgers’ DH, and pitched 20.1 innings in the postseason, yielding a 7.56 ERA in his two World Series starts.
“It was a really good experience overall, but being able to go deeper into the season as a two-way player,’’ Ohtani said, “I did feel the effect of it.’’
The Dodgers, wanting to keep Ohtani as fresh as possible, along with the rest of their rotation, tentatively are planning on a six-man rotation to at least start the season.
“How beholden we are to that, for how long, I don’t know,’’ Roberts said. “But I think it’s easy to say that because the early part of the season we’re very mindful of giving guys rest to keep guys built up. I think that lends itself to that.’’
Yet, even with the short offseason, even being a two-way player the second half of the season, Ohtani feels as fresh and strong entering spring than at any time in his eight-year career. He has already thrown three bullpen sessions since coming to Arizona two weeks ago, and plans to face batters for the first time next week.
“I was finally able to have a normal offseason,’’ Ohtani said. “Although the offseason was pretty short, I thought it was a good thing actually to have a shorter offseason.’’
Yes indeed, short offseasons mean long postseason runs, and the Dodgers are coming off two World Series titles with dreams of making it a three-peat.
And after watching Ohtani perform in camp, well, the Dodgers know just the man who can lead them back to the promised land.
“He looks strong,’’ Roberts said. “Just watching him throw, watching him run, his body moving well, I think he’s in a sweet spot.’’
Another magical season awaits.
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