On the 12th, the fourth day of camp, Shohei Otani took part in his first free batting session outdoors. He displayed powerful batting with 10 of his 21 swings over the fence, showing that he is making a smooth recovery from surgery on his right elbow.
table of contents
First outdoor free batting of this camp
[Questions and answers from Otani]
table of contents
table of contents
First outdoor free batting of this camp
[Questions and answers from Otani]
First outdoor free batting of this camp
Otani, who is participating in the Dodgers' camp in Glendale, Arizona, entered the indoor batting practice range around 11:20 a.m. on the 12th and headed to the field about 20 minutes later.
Also, for the first time in this camp, we had free batting outdoors.
Otani's powerful batting shows no signs of the effects of the surgery he underwent on his right elbow last year, and 10 of his 21 swings were home runs that went over the outfield fence.
``I hit the last two or three swings with about 90% force,'' and at the end of the practice, he swung with great enthusiasm, showing that he was making a steady recovery.
In an interview after practice, Otani said, ``I hurt my side when I took batting practice outside last September, so I took precautions, but I think I swung well for that.I think I hit the ball well, too.'' He seemed to be feeling the response.
After this day's practice, when asked again about participating in the season opener, he said, ``I was swaying more than I expected, so I think it's on schedule and the content is good. I'm just hoping things continue to go smoothly.'' He expressed his positive attitude toward participating. It was showing.
[Questions and answers from Otani]
Q. This was your first batting practice outside, how was it going?
A. It felt good, and I was swinging pretty hard, so I think the ball itself was good.
Q.Last season ended due to a side injury, how is your recovery going?
A. I did this when I was hitting outside, so today was my first time hitting outside, so I was a little cautious, but I think I was swinging well for that, and I was able to do it both inside and outside. I can swing it relatively without worrying, so I don't think there will be any problems with my side.
Q. Will you play outside every day from now on?
A. I probably won't hit it, but I think I'll hit it relatively often during camp. Basically what you do is inside. I think the main thing to do outside is to check the strength.
Q. Has your confidence increased heading into the season opener?
A. Yes. I thought it would be a little lighter, but it was a bit more swayed than I expected, so I think it's on schedule and the content itself is good, so I hope things continue as they are.
Q. At camp, do you focus on the mechanics of the swing or the overall feeling?
A. As I said before, when hitting outside, the main thing to do is check your strength and check your body. I think it's while looking for checkpoints.
Q. Has the strength reached 100%? How did you feel about the changes from last year?
A. The last two or three swings I was swinging with a little more than 90% force, so the numbers are about that, or even a little high, so I think it's a good trend. I think the results of my training are showing up well.
Q. Can you come out head first in an open game? How does it feel?
A. I don't know. Well, I think there are some trainers who say when it will be released, but it hasn't been shared much yet, so it's been about the past two weeks. Is that so? Also, I'm going to try tracking and a certain amount of live BP, and if it's good, I'll release it, so I don't know what's going on with that.I think the trainer probably knows, but I haven't shared the details. Kanato.
Q.Does the data match the numbers I think are around this? Or is it coming out more than you expected?
A.It turned out better than I expected. However, since it's Arizona, it flies a little farther and the ball is a little faster, so taking that into account, I feel like I'm about even.
Q. Is the swing going where you want it to go? Is there still a difference?
A.It's a BP ball, so it's not yet at the stage where there's that much deviation, and I think the swing itself isn't too bad.
Q.The stage is earlier than in 2019. Is the experience alive?
A. Of course, I don't have to worry too much because I know what pace I should go at, but I'm still worried about things like how well the wound is healing, and how it should be stretched afterwards. I just felt like the bending movement was better than last time, so that hasn't changed much even now, and I feel like I still don't know the steps after throwing. .