Shohei Ohtani struggled to begin the postseason but at times has looked more like his usual self at the plate since a record-setting performance in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
Ohtani hit his first career home run in the World Series on Friday, and through two games against the Toronto Blue Jays, has gone 2-for-8 with a pair of RBI and one walk.
Ohtani already looks more comfortable compared to last year’s Fall Classic against the New York Yankees, when the two-way star partially dislocated his left shoulder and went 1-for-14 in four games.
“I hope it’s completely different for Shohei,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answered when asked if Ohtani was primed for a different experience in the World Series this time around.
“Certainly having him healthy going in is a great thing. I think him kind of feeding off that last game is a good thing. Last year, it was just more of just being able to post and stand in the batter’s box and do whatever he could to sort of help us, where I think this year he’s equipped to have a big series.
“And he’s just going to have to be smart and disciplined because they’re going to pitch him careful. He’s just got to be smart, and if he’s disciplined, then it should bode well for him and for all of us.”
Even when Ohtani is struggling or less than 100%, Roberts believes he can be a game-changer just by being in the Dodgers lineup.
“You feel Shohei when he’s in the hole, let alone on deck or in the batter’s box,” Roberts said. You feel it. He’s always looming. Whether he’s swinging the bat well or not, he has the ability to impact the game, so you feel it.”
Ohtani has shown he can still make an impact when the hits aren’t falling. That was evident in the NLCS when the Milwaukee Brewers opted to intentionally walk him on multiple occasions.
Shohei Ohtani’s ‘secret’ reason for on-field batting practice
Ohtani has taken batting practice on the field multiple times during the postseason, which stemmed from him wanting to make a change that he kept secret.
Throughout his career, Ohtani would only hit in a batting cage rather than take swings on the field.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
