Shohei Ohtani meticulously navigates a schedule down the minute so he can balance a significant workload that comes with being a two-way talent. But every now and then, the four-time MVP makes an adjustment.
Such was the case before the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Cleveland Guardians in the rubber match at Dodger Stadium, as Ohtani joined his teammates for batting practice on the field. He typically will hit in the indoor cage unless looking for an answer with his swing.
“I’ve been able to get on base, so that’s a good thing,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton after Tuesday’s game. “But on pitches that I should be making impact, I’m not able to do that to the extent that I should be able to. That’s the part I’m not quite happy about.”
A rare sighting today: Shohei Ohtani is taking pregame batting practice out on the field
He mentioned last night that he wasn’t getting the results he wanted on hittable pitches, and that the feel of his swing was “a little off” pic.twitter.com/QxFjBkkvL0
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) April 1, 2026
Guardians players watching Shohei Ohtani taking batting practice on the field: pic.twitter.com/gOjiZAnYkv
— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) April 1, 2026
“I was a little surprised,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Because he doesn’t do that that often. I think he was looking for some feel, the flight of the baseball. Sometimes when he doesn’t feel well he likes to change up his routine and get on the field to see the flight. So, yeah, I was surprised.”
Ohtani went into the series finale against the Guardians just 3-for-15 this season. Taking on-field batting practice did little to change that trajectory as Ohtani went 0-for-3 with one walk and two strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 4-1 loss.
One of his strikeouts came with two runners on base and ended the eighth inning.
The walk nevertheless extended Ohtani’s on-base streak to an MLB-best 37 games. The stretch dates back to the 2025 season and is the longest on-base streak of Ohtani’s career. His current streak is tied with Andre Ethier (2011) for the ninth-longest in Los Angeles franchise history.
Shohei Ohtani’s batting practice
Ohtani famously hit on the field during a workout day in the National League Championship Series and that ultimately led to a remarkable three-homer performance that helped the Dodgers sweep the Milwaukee Brewers. He also put on a show for fans during the World Baseball Classic by hitting on the field pregame.
The Dodgers and Ohtani are waiting for it to pay dividends as he remains without an extra-base hit in 18 at-bats so far this season.
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