While Shohei Ohtani will miss the 2024 season as he heals from surgery on his right elbow, he doesn’t expect to face any limitations in any other areas heading into the Seoul Series.

“I’m very confident, because we’re right on schedule,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in response to a question regarding his potential inclusion in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for the regular season opener in South Korea.

It’s not like we’re ahead or behind. We’re exactly where we should be. Assuming nothing goes wrong from here on out, I should be fine.

During his first news conference at Dodger Stadium last year, Ohtani had already voiced a similar sentiment while talking about his recovery from elbow surgery.

Ohtani underlined at DodgerFest, “Rehab has been doing pretty well. I believe I will be able to play by March 20 if I am fully prepared.

So yet, Ohtani’s swing work has consisted of nothing more than “hitting flips,” but he plans to eventually be the Dodgers’ everyday designated hitter.

“I believe I will begin confronting the machine once we reach Arizona,” he continued.

In the offseason, the two-way star has been a regular at Dodger Stadium ever since he signed a record-setting $700 million deal with the Dodgers last December. During that time, he has met the majority of the Dodgers’ training staff, but not all of them.

Their communication has been excellent, and they have been terrific so far. The prоspect of collaborating with them excites me, Ohtani stated.

The balancing act of Shohei Ohtani’s pitching and hitting

Even though Ohtani will spend most of the 2024 season in the Dodgers’ dugout (and maybe even the outfield) as designated hitter, the possibility of his return to the mound is still being considered.

When we reach Arizona, I will begin my throwing program and work my way up from there. Ohtani stated that they have not planned anything particularly far in advance, such as live BPs or anything. Consequently, during camp, we will adapt as needed.

“Hitting will be the primary emphasis all year long, with a gradual introduction to a pitching program.”