Since injuring his left shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series, Shohei Ohtani hasn’t been performing at his usual level. His injury has been a focal point in the first four games, overshadowing his usual impact on the field.
In Tuesday’s game, Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a single in the fifth inning, bringing his batting average to just .133 over four games.
Despite his struggles, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts maintains that Ohtani is not letting the injury affect him.
“We’ve asked him multiple times, and he’s not feeling any effects,” Roberts stated. “He seems unfazed. I believe it’s more about his approach. There have been key at-bats where he could have walked, but his chasing hasn’t been ideal.”
It’s unclear if Ohtani’s recent performance issues are due to his injury or simply the nature of baseball. While his numbers have been disappointing, they are comparable to those of Yankees star Aaron Judge, the favorite for American League MVP. Both players are 2-for-15 with two walks and a hit by pitch, without hitting a home run.
The lack of contact doesn’t seem to be directly related to Ohtani’s shoulder; instead, it appears to be due to his pitch selection.
During a crucial at-bat where the Dodgers were down 6-4, Ohtani displayed uncharacteristic restraint by letting a splitter down the middle go by. He eventually struck out swinging at a splitter off the plate.
Ohtani claims to be pain-free, although he has shown signs of discomfort after a few swings in recent games.
Both the Dodgers and Ohtani are positive that his injury won’t significantly impact his performance, given that it’s his left shoulder that was hurt. This allows Ohtani to swing without pain when releasing the bat with his back hand.
“If it was my right shoulder, it would’ve affected my swing more,” Ohtani explained. “Fortunately, it was my left.”
Roberts has made it clear that Ohtani will not be stealing bases. When he does run, Ohtani holds his shirt with his left arm as a reminder to avoid sliding on that side. He did attempt his first slide in Game 4.
“I think his baserunning has been fine so far,” Roberts commented. “He even slid tonight. I don’t anticipate him stealing bases, but it hasn’t been an issue.”
With the latest loss, Ohtani has another opportunity to shine in the World Series. Given Ohtani’s track record, his big moment could come at a crucial time.
Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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