Dodgers Grapple with Ohtani’s Slump

Last week, the Dodgers found themselves in disbelief. Shohei Ohtani appeared, well, human when he batted for the first time in three years with the team.

From April 20 to April 25, the four-time MVP experienced the toughest six games of his Dodgers career, hitting 3-for-23 with no extra-base hits and racking up nine strikeouts. This slump marked a 59-at-bat stretch without a home run, the longest in his time with the franchise.

During this tough period, he struggled with low pitches and often pulled the ball weakly to the right side. It was as if baseball’s two-way sensation was encountering a unique brand of kryptonite, grappling with challenges that would be hard for anyone.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts humorously observed, “I’ve never associated the term ‘slump’ with Shohei in terms of hitting.” First baseman Freddie Freeman added, “We’re all human and have room to grow…but from Ohtani’s angle, it’s clearly unusual.”

It’s easy to overlook that Ohtani has physical limits, especially when recalling his 450-foot homers and 160 mph fastballs. After returning to full-time pitching post-Tommy John surgery, he’s facing a different kind of test early this season.

Roberts and teammates have highlighted inevitable changes for the 31-year-old star. He’s focusing more on pitching and considering recovery timelines more carefully, needing to balance his demanding schedule more sensitively.

Miguel Rojas, a veteran infielder, noted, “I think it’s sustainable with him because he’s such a great player. But moments like these hit home the reality—baseball is hard, especially doing it his way.” Freeman echoed this sentiment, stating that “when he’s pitching regularly, it creates a different dynamic.”

However, different doesn’t always equate to bad.

Freeman suggested that Ohtani’s recent struggles could mean a comeback that surprises everyone. The next day, Ohtani adjusted his batting stance and achieved three hits, one of which was a 169 mph double, plus a 110 mph homer on Sunday.

In a post-game interview, Ohtani shared in Japanese, “I’m feeling a bit better since yesterday. I believe fixing my stance is key; everything starts from there.”

Yet, even he seems cautious about rapidly returning to peak production. Typically, he’s a bit slow to start the season, and while a .262 batting average and .876 OPS aren’t awful, they would still reflect his second-worst performance for March and April in his nine-year career.

“We need to remain patient and keep improving,” he advised.

This ongoing challenge will persist throughout the year.

It’s uncertain how much his pitching affects his batting; he avoided other reporters after Sunday’s game. Nevertheless, Roberts suggested that this aspect is a “common sense” factor in Ohtani’s slow start.

“We might need to reduce some offensive workload,” Roberts remarked. “How he was swinging last week, how much is related to pitching? I can’t say for sure, but given his pitching load, it’s reasonable to expect some decline in offensive productivity.”

So far, the strategy has yielded results during his starts. Entering Tuesday’s match against the Marlins, Ohtani boasted a 0.38 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 24 innings.

“He’s been incredible on the mound,” Freeman stated.

His next challenge will be finding a stable batting rhythm while maintaining his pitching prowess. Freeman acknowledged the difficulty, admitting, “There are days I step into the box and think, ‘I feel like it’s been a while.’ And he has the added pressure of pitching regularly.”

Roberts noted the added strain, saying, “Throwing 100 pitches is no small feat. He needs more recovery time.”

This doesn’t mean Ohtani is lessening his expectations. During last week’s difficulties, Roberts noticed his frustrations, highlighting Ohtani’s high standards for himself.

“He holds himself to a high level,” Roberts remarked. “This is certainly not up to his standards.”

While Sunday might have signaled the beginning of a turnaround, last week’s slump underscores the challenges he’ll face this season.

“He’s navigating a different situation. The last two years have weighed heavily on him,” Freeman pointed out. “Baseball can be incredibly difficult. Even the best players sometimes make it look easy, and yet, often it’s not.”