Shohei Ohtani isn’t quite ready to play yet, even though spring training seems to be going well.

 

Ohtani will not play in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training opening against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, manager Dave Roberts of the team said on Sunday, as reported by The Associated Press. Ohtani, who is still recovering from elbow surgery, did not take part in live batting practice on Sunday either.

Roberts stated on Saturday, via The Associated Press, “I think none of us—maybe not named Shohei—would have expected him to be a lot further along.” “He’s ahead of schedule because he’s worked extremely hard and diligently.”

“I’m not sure what it indicates in terms of when he will participate in a Cactus League game. However, he appears to be improving and feeling great every single day.

In December, оhtаni signed а recоrd-breаking 10-yeаr, $700 milliоn cоntrаct tо jоin the Dоdgers. He isn’t аnticipаted tо pitch аgаin until the 2025 seаsоn, hаving undergоne surgery in September tо repаir а tоrn UCL in his pitching elbоw.However, the 29-year-old intends to start this season as the Dodgers’ designated hitter. He’s also trying to be ready for their season-opening game in South Korea on March 20 against the Padres. He claimed earlier in the month that he was “already swinging close to100%,” and last week’s explosive batting practice—in which he reportedly smashed 10 home runs on just 21 swings—backed up his claims. Ohtani, who played for the Los Angeles Angels for his first six years in Major League Baseball, finished the previous season with 44 home runs and 95 RBI, which were all barely short of his career highs. The two-time MVP finished the previous season with a league-best 1.055 OPS and a career batting average of.274.The Dodgers will return to action in the United States on March 28 if Ohtani isn’t ready for the team’s two games in South Korea, which are scheduled to take place in less than a month.