Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani to Play vs. Angels in 2025 MLB Spring Training Debut

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will make his first spring training appearance of the 2025 season against his former team.

Ohtani will play as designated hitter during Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels, manager Dave Roberts told reporters Wednesday.

The outing will mark Ohtani's first game since undergoing shoulder surgery in November. He faced lived pitching in batting practice for the first time this spring last Sunday, per MLB.com's Jack Magruder.

During that practice Ohtani took 18 swings on 32 pitches from High-A right-hander Nicolas Cruz, per Magruder.

Roberts said Ohtani "felt good afterward," and that his goal was to see Ohtani play DH in a game by the end of the week, per Magruder.

Ohtani is meanwhile still working his way back to the mound, where he is expected to resume pitching for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery during his final season with the Angels in 2023.

Roberts said earlier this month he believes Ohtani could be on track to face live batters before the end of training camp, per MLB.com's Sonja Chen.

The Dodgers expect Ohtani to make his first pitching appearance of the season in May, Roberts indicated earlier this month. Before then, Chen reported the team expects to have him hitting in time for Opening Day.

Friday's outing against the Angels will serve as a test to see if Ohtani remains on track for that goal. The Dodgers are set to open the 2025 season against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.

Ohtani isn't the only returning Dodgers player making their 2025 spring training debut this week.

Freddie Freeman, who is returning from offseason ankle surgery, will DH on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. Catcher Will Smith, who has dealt with an ankle injury during training camp, will then join Ohtani in the lineup against the Angels, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.