Shohei Ohtani didn’t appear pleased.
He delivered a stellar performance on the mound during Wednesday’s game, yet his demeanor post-game was far from upbeat following the Dodgers’ 4-0 victory against the Giants.
Manager Dave Roberts kept Ohtani out of the lineup for the fourth time in five games. Ohtani responded with a dominant seven scoreless innings, breaking his team’s losing streak of four.
Even after such a strong outing, Ohtani maintained that his pitching isn’t impacting his batting, viewing the situation more as coincidence. Despite only hitting his second home run in 24 games, he downplayed any suggestion of needing to adjust his approach.
“I think it’s simply a lack of ability,” he noted in Japanese.
When asked about the challenges he faces as he nears 32, Ohtani expressed, “I think now is the best time. I think I’m still young.”
This response wasn’t surprising—he emphasizes his commitment to being a two-way player.
Yet the ongoing debate about how to utilize him seems to be escalating. His recent performances are fueling the discussion.
If Ohtani keeps pitching at this level, the Dodgers might reconsider using him as a hitter when he’s on the mound. His current ERA is an impressive 0.82.
This might be the only way to prevent this from becoming a norm. Really, he needs to focus on his hitting, and quickly.
There was likely a time when Ohtani would have accepted a routine like Roberts’ without question.
Back in Japan, and even early in his MLB career, Ohtani often didn’t hit on days he pitched, sometimes not swinging the bat for days around his starts.
But in 2021, the year he snagged his first MVP award with the Angels, he shifted his approach. He started playing more regularly, and that has become his standard since.
While it’s said that Ohtani accepted Roberts’ decision to keep him out of the lineup, one wonders about his true feelings about the manager’s choice. If he’s upset, does it even matter?
“I think he appreciates that,” Roberts remarked. “That’s important to some extent, but given how his body responds, I feel it’s best to manage that. I believe we have a solid relationship, and he understands I’m doing this for him and the team.”
Roberts also mentioned that taking less responsibility as a hitter allows Ohtani to focus more on pitching. In Wednesday’s game, he tossed 90 pitches in six innings, with Roberts permitting him to pitch a seventh.
“If he’d been hitting, I probably would’ve pulled him there,” Roberts reflected.
Ohtani ended the night with a season-high of 105 pitches.
Part of Roberts’ strategy was that Ohtani would miss the series finale against the Giants on Thursday.
“I’m just trying to give my body a few days to reset,” Roberts explained.
Ohtani shared plans to use the additional time to build on his recent performance, where he went 2-for-4 with a walk.
He described the last few weeks as a continual search for clarity at the plate. He had tried various approaches, but nothing seemed to click.
“Making improvements is often not as challenging as sustaining them,” he remarked.
Though he sounded rather drained, he insisted he wouldn’t stop searching for answers.
“Rest is important, but I want to do what’s necessary to perform well next time,” he said.
Ohtani is aware of what needs to be done.
Throughout his career, the outcomes have always dictated his standing as a two-way player.
Initially in Japan, followed by his transition to the majors.
Now, in his third season with the Dodgers, this four-time MVP finds himself in a familiar situation once again. His performance will once more dictate his future.
