Monday, February 12, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
This spring training is a Japanese connection. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are the talk of the Camelback Ranch. The Dodgers hope these foreign players will play an integral role in their 2024 season.
Yamamoto is a nasty right-handed starter who won everything in Japan. He was a star during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. This December, Yamamoto signed a twelve-year $32 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At 25, Yamamoto has a small frame. At five-ten, he throws in the mid-90s, a cutter, a splitter, and a curveball. When he first threw a bullpen session, Gavin Lux said, “Nasty.”
Many Dodger fans expect Yamamoto to be the Dodger Opening Day. Some envision him winning the National League Rookie of the Year.
Last September, Ohtani underwent his second Tommy John surgery, making him unable to pitch in the 2024 season. He will focus on hitting, but last time he had Tommy John surgery and hit only, he didn’t perform well. However, he will perform better this time since he has experience as a major leaguer.
On Monday, Ohtani took live batting practice since having the surgery. He blasted a long home run. Ohtani is determined to start on Opening Day in South Korea, and Ohtani is slated to bat third, after Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
