Shohei Ohtani is set to make a brief appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Cactus League play before joining Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. The two-time defending World Series champions' star two-way player will lead off as designated hitter in the team's spring training opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Manager Dave Roberts indicated Ohtani will play two or three at-bats before departing for international duty. The 31-year-old phenom is also scheduled to face live hitting on Sunday, with Roberts already suggesting he should be in Cy Young Award contention this season. Meanwhile, reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start for the Dodgers before joining the Japanese squad.

Yamamoto, who signed a $325 million, 12-year contract in December 2023, went 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in the Dodgers' seven-game World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Roberts emphasized the importance of monitoring workloads for both international stars, noting Yamamoto's workload after striking out 15 and allowing just two runs over 17 ⅔ innings during the postseason. The Dodgers face the challenge of balancing their championship aspirations with their players' commitments to the WBC.