Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani gives rest of MLB another thing to be scared of

There's something different about Shohei Ohtani this season.

And the rest of MLB needs to be even more scared of the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar than normal.

The key to this Ohtani season is that he isn't coming back from injury.

Last season, Ohtani was focused on getting back on the mound for the pitching side of things after missing the entire prior campaign as a pitcher due to Tommy John surgery.

This time around, Ohtani isn't worried about building strength back up. He's fully healthy and ready to go.

In his final exhibition outing before Opening Day, Ohtani struck out 11 Angels hitters on Tuesday night.

"I found the two outings that we saw him in games ... the intensity was there, focus was there, and the execution, all that stuff was there," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game, via MLB.com. "He's ready to go."

MORE: Cal Raleigh was supposed to play for the Braves

Ohtani was away from the Dodgers for most of the spring while playing with Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He didn't pitch for his country in order to keep his right arm focused on the MLB season ahead, but he did throw while at the WBC in order to maintain his readiness for the season.

He certainly seems ready. On Tuesday night, Ohtani had a stretch when he struck out six Angels hitters in a row.

"Today he had his sinker working, he had the curveball working," Roberts said, via MLB.com. "Just [striking] lefties out, righties out with different pitches ... shows the confidence he has."

Ohtani did allow three runs to the Angels, but the Dodgers will be most focused on the dominance of his best stuff. This has the potential to be yet another special season for Ohtani.

More MLB news:

• The contract reason Pirates are keeping Konnor Griffin in the minor leagues
• Juan Soto might lead MLB in a brand new stat
• Giants snap embarrassing 19-year streak that tied MLB record
• MLB's future of the shortstop position is immensely bright
• Do the Red Sox have a Garrett Crochet problem?
• 4 MLB teams that can unseat the Dodgers