Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani smacks solo homer in first spring at-bat - ESPN

GLENDALE, Ariz. — As much as Shohei Ohtani relished the opposite-field home run he crushed Friday night in his first at-bat this spring, the reigning National League MVP left the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels feeling even better about how his surgically repaired left shoulder withstood its biggest test yet.

«Regardless of the results, I think the biggest takeaway was being able to go through my three at-bats without any issues,» Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. «Physically, it felt really good.»

Ohtani's first-inning homer off countryman Yusei Kikuchi electrified the crowd at Camelback Ranch that packed the stands to see the 30-year-old in his first action since the Dodgers won the World Series. He spent the winter rehabilitating after arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder suffered diving into second base during Game 2.

The hope for Ohtani to be at full strength before the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs kick off the Major League Baseball season March 18 in his home country of Japan grew closer to reality Friday. When Ohtani ascended the dugout steps at 6:08 p.m. local time, fans greeted him with a cheer and watched him take three practice swings before stepping into the batter's box accompanied by a louder ovation.

He started the at-bat from Kikuchi, who graduated from the same high school as Ohtani, by staring at a 95 mph fastball for a strike. Ohtani took a curveball for a ball, swung through another for a strike, stared at one more low and didn't bite on an outside fastball before taking a 94 mph fastball into the Dodgers' bullpen in left field.

«Obviously he's fine,» Kikuchi said. «After that first home run he was able to hit that far, yeah, I'm sure he's