It's not essentially a shock to see hordes of media ready for Shohei Ohtani at Camelback Ranch. In spite of everything, he’s probably the most well-known baseball participant on the earth who signed a report contract with the Dodgers.
Nevertheless it's nonetheless one thing to see within the crush of individuals ready for his each transfer, whether or not it's from reporters and photographers lining up in Arizona…
Dodgers area. There are about 40 Japanese journalists there they usually've been there since 6 a.m. They noticed Kershaw and Yamamoto enter the power, however in any other case, “nothing occurred.” Nevertheless, one among them informed me, “We will't even go to the lavatory.” pic.twitter.com/0B7rXTLdE2
– Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) February 8, 2024
…or if it was the next-level reactions from the Dodger Stadium crowd at DodgerFest final Saturday, a sound often heard in previous Elvis or The Beatles movies.
Even teammates spoke reverently of Ohtani, together with those that labored with him at Dodger Stadium this season, reminiscent of Walker Buehler and Gavin Lux, or others who met him for the primary time final Saturday.
“It was nice,” Lux informed Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Occasions. “Clearly everybody is aware of how good a baseball participant is, however seeing the work that goes behind it’s actually spectacular.”
The consensus is that, in baseball, Ohtani is one among a sort.
“Nobody goes to get the reception that Shohei Ohtani goes to get,” Mookie Betts, himself a famous person and former MVP, mentioned final weekend at Dodger Stadium. “So there's no level in me making an attempt to elucidate what he's going to realize. I feel I'll give him a standing ovation, like everybody else.
Friday was Ohtani's third time chatting with the media since becoming a member of the Dodgers, alongside together with his introductory press convention on Dec. 14 at Dodger Stadium and final Saturday at DodgerFest.
“I'm nonetheless itching to see him in a Dodger uniform,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned Friday at Camelback Ranch, per Invoice Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“I'm on a brand new workforce, so I'm going to behave like a rookie,” Ohtani mentioned by interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, per David Brandt of the Related Press. “Attempt to study with all the blokes and teammates.
Dylan Hernández on the Los Angeles Occasions wrote in regards to the significance of introductions to Japanese tradition, and the way Ohtani is navigating the early phases of his time with a brand new workforce:
“There's only a nice sense of humility and kindness,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned.
As Ohtani confirmed up, he remained involved that he is perhaps about to make a giant mistake. Specifically, he’s afraid of with the ability to introduce himself to the identical particular person twice, which might be thought-about extraordinarily disrespectful in his homeland.
“I’ve to recollect [them] on the primary shot,” Ohtani mentioned with fun.
From Alden González to ESPN:
On Friday, Roberts confirmed what has lengthy been apparent – that Ohtani, who underwent a hybrid model of a second Tommy John surgical procedure in September, isn’t an choice to pitch at any time in 2024. He believes that having him as' and Dodger will at all times be. “raises the bar” for the complete workforce, even when Ohtani is just fulfilling half of his duties.
“There's only a nice sense of humility and gentleness,” Roberts mentioned of Ohtani, “however there's that lion there. You see. And that, to me — that's the proper combo.”
Ohtani will do alone hit in 2024, so what the Dodgers are getting is somebody who will hit .277/.379/.585 with a 161 OPS+ whereas averaging 41 dwelling runs the final three seasons. As throughout his introductory press convention in December, and once more final Saturday at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani mentioned his swing development was going properly after elbow surgical procedure in September.
From Bob Nightengale at USA At this time:
“My swing effort degree is about 100% proper now,” Ohtani mentioned. “My subsequent step is to face stay weapons and face some veils.”
Ohtani received't pitch this season, however after present process a second main elbow surgical procedure in 5 years, he feels the teachings he's realized from this rehab course of will profit him.
“This isn’t my first time doing this rehab whereas preparing for the season,” Ohtani mentioned, “so I really feel prefer it's going to be simpler.”
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