Betts, Ohtani and Freeman, a terrifying trio

With Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, the Los Angeles Dodgers have an impressive trio at the top of their lineup.

That’s a tough start for any pitcher.

Betts and Ohtani each had three hits and Freeman drove in two runs Sunday during a 7-4 preseason victory over the Colorado Rockies. Betts is 7-for-17 so far in spring training and Ohtani is 5-for-7 with limited activity.

Betts and Freeman will begin their third season together in Los Angeles, and Ohtani joined both stars by signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December.

Ohtani won’t pitch this season while he recovers from major elbow surgery, but it appears the rest of his playing skills are improving.

The Japanese phenomenon perfectly completed his three plate appearances

In his first appearance at bat, in the first inning, Ohtani had a hit off Austin Gomber, who started for the Rockies, moving Mookie Betts to second base, who appeared on a single by Freddie Freeman.

Ohtani wrote in that same first chapter, about Will Smith’s sacrifice fly, to be part of a three-run attack in that episode.

The two-time American League MVP drove in Betts with a loose triple in the second inning. It seemed like he thought his hit toward the center field fence turned into a home run. Ohtani began jogging toward third when he saw the ball was in play.

Ohtani stepped on the pentagon once again in that second inning, due to a throwing error by the Rockies second baseman, the Dominican Julio Carreras, on a hit by Freeman.

In his third trip to the batter’s box, Ohtani punished reliever Noah Davis with a hit to right field, getting Andy Pages to advance to the register.

With his three hits this Sunday, Ohtani has batted in his last five consecutive official at-bats, registering among his hits a home run, a triple and three singles. With his hit, the stellar designated hitter drove in two runs and scored twice.

Ohtani has expressed that he feels good, health-wise, in the process of recovering from the right elbow surgery he underwent before the end of last season.

Due to the results he has achieved so far, the Japanese could be ready for the start of the regular calendar, when the Dodgers face the San Diego Padres on March 20 and 21, in Seoul, South Korea, at the start of the 2024 season. .