Shohei Ohtani launches first homer in Dodgers spring debut

GLENDALE, Ariz. – It was far from a sellout crowd, but those who attended Shohei Ohtani's spring debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday were rewarded in his final at-bat as Ohtani launched a two-run homer to left. stands on the field, eliciting the loudest cheers of the day.

Ohtani's blast came in the bottom of the fifth on a 3-2 pitch from Chicago White Sox right-hander Dominic Leone. He finished 1 for 3, striking out and launching into a double play in his other two at-bats.

“I thought I reached a little too high at first, but the Arizona weather factored in a little bit,” Ohtani said afterward through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. “I felt better every time I came back. It's going in the right direction.”

Batting second in the Dodgers order behind Mookie Betts and ahead of Freddie Freeman, Ohtani struck out looking left-hander Garrett Crochet in his first at-bat, then hit a hard double-play ball to second base in third round before going deep. the fifth.

“With Shohei — I'm starting to learn really quickly — he's built differently,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He made some really good swings.”

Reigning AL MVP, Ohtani was playing his first game since undergoing right elbow surgery last September and his first since signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December .

Fans lined the third-base line as he headed onto the field, then took photos as he came out onto the deck. His home run brought the 6,678 people in attendance to their feet.

“I really felt the energy from the crowd and the fans,” he said. “I really appreciate it. I'm really happy that I was able to come back in time and play in front of the fans.”

Ohtani won't pitch this season, but homers like the one he hit Tuesday will certainly be enough entertainment for the Dodgers faithful.

He was asked if he thought he would see more pitches in the strike zone in front of Freeman.

“I definitely think it’s going to help,” Ohtani said. “It’s not just Freddie, it’s Mookie and a bunch of good hitters behind Freddie.”

Ohtani said he had no nerves in his first game since the surgery or with his new team. He said he was just focused on preparing for the season as the Dodgers' DH.

“It’s certainly a great first step,” he said.