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Report: Ohtani to DH on Opening Day; slated for March 31 pitching debut

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Despite stumbling through an unimpressive first spring training with the Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani will break camp with the club, and the two-way phenom is slated to be their Opening Day designated hitter, two high-ranking team executives told Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Ohtani is also tentatively scheduled to make his debut on the mound March 31 in the third game of the Angels' season-opening series against the Oakland Athletics.

"It's going to be a pretty crazy year for sure," said two-time American League MVP Mike Trout. "(Ohtani) just gives off these great vibes. I know it's going to be tough on him doing both things, but I think he's going to wow us.

"Really, I think he’ll wow everyone."

This spring, however, Ohtani hasn't turned many heads, managing a 27.00 ERA over two Cactus League starts (he also got lit up in an outing against the Tijuana Toros of the Mexican League) while going just 3-for-28 (.107) at the plate with nine strikeouts and no extra-base hits.

Nevertheless, Ohtani - who is expected to make 23-25 starts this season and DH semi-regularly - remains unfazed, according to his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

"He understands," Mizuhara said. "He realizes how much attention he’s getting. That's why they’re looking at the spring training stats.

"But it doesn’t bother him. He's going to keep doing the same thing.

"Really, it is not bothering him."

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