LOS ANGELES — Charley Steiner returned to the Dodgers broadcast booth on Thursday, calling the first three innings of the opening day game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on radio.
Steiner has battled health issues in recent years, including multiple myeloma and a back injury that made it difficult to walk. His workload for this season is unknown, and will depend on how he’s feeling. At the very least, expect Steiner to be a part of some radio pregame segments with Rick Monday.
This is the 22nd season calling games for the Dodgers for Steiner, who turned the microphone over on Thursday to Stephen Nelson to call the final six innings alongside Monday on opening day.
Every locker in the Dodgers clubhouse on opening day had a Seiko bag from Shohei Ohtani with a note saying “Three Peat!!” Inside was a luxury watch. It’s the third such season Ohtani has given a gift to his teammates before the first game.
“He’s just very generous, very thoughtful,” manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. “I think we’re all very grateful.”