Overview
- Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani expects to be in the Cy Young conversation, stressing the club’s priority is for him to stay healthy and make regular starts.
- Ohtani has thrown three bullpen sessions at Camelback Ranch and aims to face hitters next week before joining Japan, where he will participate in the WBC as a hitter only.
- Los Angeles is preparing usage safeguards, with Roberts signaling a likely six-man rotation and flexibility on timelines to help Ohtani build innings for a full two-way season.
- After returning to the mound last June, Ohtani posted a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts and nine walks over 47 regular-season innings, then made four postseason starts, underscoring that volume is the remaining hurdle for Cy Young contention.
- Separately, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said a raucous reception at Citi Field helped spur Toronto’s 14-year, $500 million extension, an account reported by Forbes that highlights how market interest can influence team decisions.