Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani 'Very Confident' He'll Be Opening Day DH amid Injury Rehab

Los Angeles Dodgers fans aren't going to have to wait long to see new signing Shohei Ohtani this season.

He said he is "very confident" he will be the designated hitter for the Dodgers when they take the field for Opening Day against the San Diego Padres on March 20 in South Korea, per Alden González of ESPN.

While he is recovering from elbow surgery, he said he is also on schedule with his rehab for a season that will see him hit but not pitch.

Los Angeles' ability to add Ohtani was the biggest move of the entire offseason, as his resume includes a Rookie of the Year, two American League MVPs, two Silver Sluggers and three All-Star selections.

Much of his value comes from his ability to anchor a team's pitching staff and lineup as someone who can pitch and hit at an elite level, but he will not be able to do that in 2024 following his surgery.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, he will be under contract for the next 10 years after signing a significant deal.

Ohtani will defer $680 of the $700 million on his deal until after his contract expires, which helped Los Angeles add more surrounding talent. It also added Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernández during a transcendent offseason.

The Dodgers are already coming off a stretch that saw them win the National League West in 10 of the last 11 years. If they live up to expectations in 2024, anything less than a World Series crown would be considered a disappointment.

Ohtani is a major reason for that even though he won't be pitching.

He slashed .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs, 95 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 135 games as an offensive player last season for the Los Angeles Angels.

The Dodgers would surely love another performance like that.