As a reminder, Ohtani hasn't pitched since Aug. 23, 2023. He underwent surgery on his pitching elbow less than a month later. At the time, his surgeon said it was to "repair the issue at hand and to reinforce the healthy ligament in place while adding viable tissue for the longevity of the elbow."

It’s been a remarkable year for Shohei Ohtani, who signed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers last December. But the most remarkable part is that it began with a career-threatening controversy.

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani strolled into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse about three and a half hours before first pitch, displaying the easygoing demeanor of a kid he once was growing up in Japan. He smiled. He joked with teammates. He appeared completely relaxed, just happy to come to the field to play baseball.