When will Shohei Ohtani play for Dodgers? Latest news, schedule for 2024 spring training debut

Edward Sutelan

When will Shohei Ohtani play for Dodgers? Latest news, schedule for 2024 spring training debut image

Shohei Ohtani has already been seen hitting home runs in batting practice while wearing Dodger blue, and Los Angeles fans won't have to wait much longer to watch it happen in a spring training game.

Ohtani is making his recovery from offseason elbow surgery, which will prevent him from pitching in 2024. He will still be batting, following his '19 model where he only hit after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Though Ohtani is at camp and has shown an impressive swing, the highest-paid player in baseball is not rushing back to full-time action. The Dodgers are going to ensure they protect their investment with a focus on keeping him healthy for the second half of the 2024 campaign, particularly the playoffs, rather than rushing him back.

When will Ohtani be making his spring training Dodgers debut? Here's the latest.

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Latest news for Shohei Ohtani's spring training debut

Ohtani's spring training debut with the Dodgers officially has a date.

The two-time MVP will suit up for Los Angeles' exhibition game against the White Sox on Tuesday, Feb. 27, MLB.com's Juan Toribio reported.

The Dodgers began their spring training schedule earlier than anyone except the Padres due to the two NL West teams facing off against one another in Seoul, South Korea, for the Seoul Series on March 20-21.

However, that didn't mean Ohtani was ready to make his debut for the Dodgers' first spring training game.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani would not be playing in the spring training opener despite recently taking live batting practice and hitting a home run in his first session.

Ohtani has been given plenty of leeway with his offseason workouts. He was permitted to go through different activities than what the team had prepared for him earlier in spring training, per the LA Times, a level of independence not uncommon for star players. 

Roberts noted Ohtani is a different player altogether than other vets who have received that freedom in the past. For starters, "he knows his body better than anyone," particularly when it comes to best practices for coming back from surgeries, which he has done in the past.

"And No. 2, we're still trying to learn him," Roberts said, per the Los Angeles Times. "So I think for the organization to say, 'This is what you have to do,' I don't think that's the right process. There's got to be trust on both sides.

"... When he feels like he's ready to play in a game, he'll play in a game."

Ohtani appears to be ready to go, set to make his Dodgers debut this week.

Dodgers spring training schedule

DateTime (ET)MatchupLocation
Feb. 223:10 pmDodgers at PadresPeoria Stadium, Peoria, Ariz.
Feb. 233:08 pmPadres at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
Feb. 243:10 pmDodgers at AngelsTempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.
Feb. 253:05 pmAthletics at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
Feb. 263:10 pmDodgers at RockiesSalt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Feb. 273:05 pmWhite Sox at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
Feb. 283:05 pmDodgers at RangersSurprise Stadium, Surprise, Ariz.
Feb. 298:05 pmDodgers at RedsGoodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Ariz.
March 18:05 pmGuardians at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 23:10 pmDodgers at BrewersAmerican Family Fields of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz.
March 23:05 pmCubs at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 33:05 pmRockies at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 58:05 pmAngels at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 63:05 pmDodgers at White SoxCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 79:05 pmDodgers at GiantsScottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale, Ariz.
March 88:05 pmReds at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 93:05 pmRangers at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 104:05 pmD-backs at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 114:05 pmDodgers at GuardiansGoodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Ariz.
March 124:05 pmGiants at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 134:05 pmMariners at DodgersCamelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz.
March 1611:00 pmDodgers at Kiwoom HeroesGocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea
March 186:00 amKorea at DodgersGocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea
March 206:05 amDodgers at Padres*Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea
March 216:05 amPadres at Dodgers*Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, South Korea
March 247:10 pmAngels at DodgersDodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
March 259:10 pmAngels at DodgersDodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
March 269:07 pmDodgers at AngelsAngel Stadium, Anaheim, Calif.

* - Seoul Series games will be regular-season contests 

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.