LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) -- National League MVP Shohei Ohtani said Thursday he will try to resume his two-way role when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the 2025 season in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs.

"I'm looking at Opening Day, and I want to pitch and hit from the start," said Ohtani, who unanimously won his third career MVP award the same day.

When Ohtani had surgery in early November to repair a labrum tear that resulted from a left shoulder dislocation sustained during the World Series, baseball watchers expected it might delay his return to the mound.

The Japanese star, however, has resumed core and lower body workouts to get back to two-way play.

The World Series champion Dodgers will meet the Cubs in the two-game season-opening series at Tokyo Dome on March 18 and 19.

The Cubs have two Japanese players, left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga and outfielder Seiya Suzuki.

In 2024, Ohtani, unable to pitch after his second right elbow surgery, became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. He went on to finish at 54-59.

"My job is to pitch and keep appearing in games as a hitter, but I knew I couldn't do both this year," Ohtani said. "So I wanted to do well offensively, enough to make up for being unable to pitch."

Ohtani was the American League's unanimous MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way player with the Los Angeles Angels. As a pitcher, he has a 38-19 career record with a 3.01 ERA in 86 starts.

Asked to comment on his relationship with manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani said, "After just several months, I felt like I've been working with him for years. He created a comfortable playing environment."