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.

Shohei Ohtani opened 2025 in style on Friday, hitting a home run in his first plate appearance of spring training after missing time following shoulder surgery. Serving as the Los Angeles Dodgers' designated hitter while leading off the bottom of the first inning,

Shohei Ohtani continues to rehab from elbow surgery in an attempt to return to the pitcher's mound with that likely happening at some point in May. Meanwhile, he also had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in the offseason after injuring it during the World Series.