The 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees starts Friday, Oct. 25. As always, there's plenty of anticipation and questions leading up to the Fall Classic. One of the big questions is whether or not Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will return to being the two-way sensation he has previously been.

It’s been a remarkable year for Shohei Ohtani, who signed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers last December. But the most remarkable part is that it began with a career-threatening controversy.

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani strolled into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse about three and a half hours before first pitch, displaying the easygoing demeanor of a kid he once was growing up in Japan. He smiled. He joked with teammates. He appeared completely relaxed, just happy to come to the field to play baseball.