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Will Shohei Ohtani play in Dodgers vs. Padres MLB spring training today?

ayrton ostly, usa today
·2 min read
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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (left) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pose for a portrait during media day at Camelback Ranch. Both player's jerseys can be seen tucked into their pants.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (left) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pose for a portrait during media day at Camelback Ranch. Both player's jerseys can be seen tucked into their pants.

MLB spring training is underway in Florida and Arizona this week. Thursday's action saw the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the San Diego Padres in the first game of the Cactus League season. Los Angeles won 14-1 but notably without big-name free agent signee Shohei Ohtani.

The Dodgers and Padres match up again Friday afternoon starting at 4:10 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The biggest question for Dodgers fans is whether Ohtani will suit up for the first time for Los Angeles. The defending American League MVP is recovering from a UCL injury suffered last August and will strictly be a designated hitter for the 2024 season.

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This is Los Angeles and San Diego's last matchup before facing off for the first series of the MLB regular season. The two-game series will be played in South Korea. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Tuesday that offseason additions Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow will start those games.

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Is Shohei Ohtani playing today?

Ohtani is not expected to make his spring-training debut for another week, and Japanese pitching star Yoshinobu Yamamoto won’t make his first start for another four days, but the Dodgers’ spring training home opener Friday afternoon against the San Diego Padres is expected to be a sellout.

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When will Shohei Ohtani play?

Both Ohtani and Yamamoto are expected to play in Spring Training within the next week and a half. Ohtani may take a little bit longer but he told reporters that he's aiming to get to 50 total at-bats before the season opener in South Korea.

Ohtani explained that those at-bats don't have to come during live games. Instead, he'll count live batting practice and practice against a pitching machine as progress towards 50 at-bats. He's at five at-bats so far this spring in batting practice, including Monday's practice that saw him hit a home run in his first at-bat.

The Dodgers take on the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in their next Spring Training matchup.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Shohei Ohtani playing today in Dodgers-Padres spring training game?