Shohei Ohtani has been everything and more for the Los Angeles Dodgers as he inches closer to the first 40-40 season in franchise history.
However, the two-time MVP has quietly fallen into a slump since the All-Star break. He’s hitting just .200/.304/.540 with six doubles, 10 home runs and 19 RBI over the last 28 games.
Ohtani has especially struggled in the last two weeks as he is batting .164/.217/.546 with eight extra-base hits and nine RBI in 13 games.
Although the power numbers are there, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes a lack of plate discipline and foundation have contributed to Ohtani’s recent woes, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I think the plate discipline is just not what it is when he’s right. His walk percentage, I’m sure, in the last three weeks is considerably down,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think the swing decisions aren’t as good as they have been.
“At times, I think he’s out front. At times I think he is getting beat a little bit. He might be a little bit in between. … He’s losing his foundation, his base, his connection to the ground. That’s never a good sign for a hitter. Where you’re more into the ground, I think that’s when all hitters are best. I do think there’s a little bit of, on ice skates a little bit more than he typically is.”
When asked to explain the struggles, Ohtani noted that his stance at the plate is not where it should be, which is of bigger concern than how he’s swinging the bat:
“I think having the right posture when I’m looking at the pitcher is something that’s really important. I feel like it’s a little off,” he said.
“Rather than the swing, I think it’s more about the posture. I don’t really see much of a difference per se in terms of how the pitchers are attacking me. Regardless of how they’re attacking me, I’m really focused on swinging at strikes, regardless of any pitches that they throw. And when I’m not really squaring up, then it’s kind of telling me that I’m not quite on it.”
Ohtani’s walk percentage is actually slightly up in the second half (12.3% from 11.9%), but he has been simply getting beat by pitchers more times than not.
Ohtani is just 12-for-69 during the month of August, with seven of those hits going for home runs. His strikeout percentage (25.4%) is also up from 21.7% in the first half.
Why is Shohei Ohtani struggling?
Ohtani could simply be dealing with fatigue as he has played in all but three of the Dodgers’ 125 games this season. However, that shouldn’t be too much of a factor as he has not pitched at all this season.
Ohtani could also be pressing as the Dodgers have seen their lead in the National League West shrink due to the excellent play of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.
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