Shohei Ohtani is expected to be ready to hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers open their season in Japan next March, but it's 'very unlikely' that he will also pitch in those games, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.open their season in Japan next March, but it's"very unlikely" that he will also pitch in those games, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
"I just don't see us starting the clock in March to then think that we would keep that continuously going through October," Roberts said from Day 1 of the Winter Meetings on Monday."Then that would call for a break or reprieve in the middle of the season."in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18 and 19, then fly back to the United States and wait another week before re-starting their regular season.
"What we feel like is most important is that he is ready to pitch at his highest level when the games matter the most," Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said."Early-season games are very important, but we feel like if we can get him to a position where he is peaking towards the end of the season, that is the ideal scenario.
Asked if it's still possible he transitions to second base before the start of spring training, opening up the possibility for other moves, Gomes said:"Our plan right now is for Mookie to prepare as a shortstop."would basically be the everyday center fielder. Conforto, a left-handed hitter who produced well against left-handed pitching last season, is expected to be an everyday player. The Dodgers haveBetts, 32, won six Gold Gloves in right field.
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