Shohei Ohtani, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, aims to be ready for opening day

Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of recovery from arthroscopic surgery to repair a labral tear in his left shoulder following the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series victory over the New York Yankees last month.

“We’ve already removed the stitches,” the Japanese star said Thursday in Los Angeles after winning his third MVP award, his first with the Dodgers. “The goal right now is to get my range of motion back. Today we started working on the core and we’re growing a little at the moment.”

[Related: Shohei Ohtani wins NL MVP by unanimous vote]

Ohtani had surgery on Nov. 5, four days after he and the team traveled to downtown Los Angeles and celebrated with fans at Dodger Stadium.

“We were locked up in rehab every day and I was just sitting in my bed relaxing,” he said through a translator. “We couldn’t take time to celebrate as a family.”

Ohtani did not pitch this season when he underwent elbow surgery in September 2023. He injured his shoulder trying to steal second base during Game 2 of the World Series.

“The goal is to be ready for opening day including hitting and pitching, but we’re taking our time,” he said. “Obviously I want to make sure I’m healthy first. We’re not going to rush anything. We’re going to take a little more time and save.”

Ohtani’s most troubled time during his first regular season with the Dodgers did not include his performance.

It was about his beloved dog, Decoy.

“The most difficult game, I was very nervous when we took Decoy off the field,” he said.

Like his owner, Decoy performed well that August night, pacing the mound with the ball in his mouth to Ohtani waiting behind the plate. Ohtani later led off against Baltimore with his second bobblehead of the night.

They were together Thursday, when Dutchman Kooikerhondje made a brief televised appearance as Ohtani, sitting next to his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, discussed his MVP honor. He called it “very humbling.”

The 30-year-old designated hitter took all 30 first-place votes in the Baseball Writers’ Association, becoming the first player to win unanimous MVP honors three times. He won twice in the AL with the Los Angeles Angels.

“It will motivate me a lot to continue to help the team win next year,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “We’d like to keep winning the World Series every year.”

Ohtani became the second player in league history to win the award in both leagues, joining Frank Robinson, who won the NL MVP in 1961 and the AL MVP in 1966.

Ohtani may see a familiar face in the majors soon. Regarded pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to sign with a Major League Baseball team in January. He and Ohtani were teammates when Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2023.

“No, I wasn’t really guarding him,” Ohtani said. “I consider him a friend, so we will always talk about baseball in general and life. I will respect his decision wherever he wants to sign and I think he will do well wherever he goes.”

It is reported by the Associated Press.

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