![Bearing the scar of Tommy John surgery, Shohei Ohtani stretches at the Dodgers' spring training facility.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d4c972f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2672x2672+0+85/resize/1000x1000!/quality/85/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2Fea%2Fe687b77b46feac65a00c6998400c%2F1411226-sp-0214-dodgers-14-rcg.jpg)
The Dodgers already had signature players in Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, but Shohei Ohtani is of another universe.
Ohtani is a celebrity.
As perhaps the most popular player in the game, who just joined the sport’s most glamorous team, Ohtani figures to be baseball’s most scrutinized player since Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s career home run record in 2007.
Not every player will welcome the extra attention Ohtani brings. Already, the Dodgers clubhouse is overrun in the morning by reporters, leading to fewer players spending time there than in previous camps. Check out the frenzy at the Dodgers’ training camp.
![Christian Bujand, 10, crowds along with numerous other fans hoping for an autograph from Shoehei Ohtani.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b34cc15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5698x3199+0+0/resize/2000x1123!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd4%2F6b%2F5e43c6d241dea4e488ae8655bfe8%2F1411226-sp-0214-dodgers-13-rcg.jpg)
![Dodgers players run sprints in the outfield.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/52ee65b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4923x3093+0+0/resize/2000x1257!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8c%2F18%2F66e18fd04c97b0b3188d76ed5374%2F1411226-sp-0214-dodgers-11-rcg.jpg)
![Shohei Ohtani, right, in the batting cage at Dodgers spring training.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/131fcae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3396x2446+0+0/resize/2000x1441!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F71%2F03%2F59ae08294d01a7ea3d9d563fab28%2F1411226-sp-0214-dodgers-37-rcg.jpg)
![Pitchers Walker Buehler and Daniel Hudson look on as pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, delivers a pitch](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/328116b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4972x3251+0+0/resize/2000x1308!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa7%2Fca%2F8bae5f814bb9b7757c0623ac5b90%2F1411226-sp-0214-dodgers-29-rcg.jpg)
![Shohei Ohtani warms up before taking some swings in the batting cage.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/85424a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2983x3368+0+0/resize/2000x2258!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F21%2Fbb%2F20bc58cc4e1db9cd903d00dd4ab2%2F1411226-sp-0214-dodgers-39-rcg.jpg)
![Fans wait for players to arrive at Dodgers' first official day of spring training.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9223ba8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2Ffe%2F2b95f4144950b47e1ca0879cb040%2F1411226-sp-0214-dodgers-46-rcg.jpg)
![Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani stands in the batter's box](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8263c24/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1580x2370+0+79/resize/800x1200!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F62%2Fc0%2Fe53803db4d229cce34ee2fabd9fd%2F1411737-sp-0215-dodgers-spring-training-22-rcg.jpg)
![Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani stands in the batter's box during a practice session.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b9149e9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x6000+0+0/resize/800x1200!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F34%2F1e7f0ca34101ab3b975a46a65fc1%2F1411737-sp-0215-dodgers-spring-training-24-rcg.jpg)
Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani stands in the batter’s box during a practice session for pitcher Emmet Sheehan during day two of spring training. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
![Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani stands in the batter's box during a practice session.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3513a98/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5169x3446+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2F13%2F9ba585a245539b5ffe2e73466d99%2F1411737-sp-0215-dodgers-spring-training-26-rcg.jpg)
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