Shohei Ohtani has played a key role for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, factoring into nearly every game with his monstrous production at the plate.
Being the current league-leader in extra base hits with 30, Ohtani’s 60.9% hart hit rate ranks in the 100th percentile, alongside his 21.2 barrel rate. The 29-year-old has also continued his elite plate discipline, reaching base at a .424 clip.
In his first at-bat on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ohtani tapped into a rare part of his game: bunting. On the first pitch from left-hander Joe Matinply, Ohtani laid a bunt down, using his speed to force a tough throw.
“I was very surprised. Pleasantly surprised,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I like guys that think the game and play the game the way that you’re supposed to play it, and he’s done a great job of that.”
Ohtani was credited with a hit after reaching first, marking his first bunt hit since the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Angels. Monday’s bunt single was the sixth of his big league career, and because of abbreviated shifts, teams open themselves up for those spots.
“He saw, he’s playing baseball,” Roberts said when asked if it was something Ohtani saw or a decision from the coaching staff. “Obviously, he hits the ball extremely hard, so Suarez was way back and so he took a shot on the bunt.
“Wasn’t a really good bunt, but it just speaks to how fast he is. And certainly not expecting it, but I love the way that the game tells you what you can and can’t do and the game told him that the bunt was a good play at that point in time, and it was a good play.”
It wasn’t the best bunt of his career, with Roberts adding that it wouldn’t win any awards when grading it.
“Probably a two. But the result was a 10,” Roberts joked.
Shohei Ohtani dominance among Major League hitters
Heading into play on May 21, Ohtani is tied with Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker with a 3.1 fWAR. The remarkable thing for the Dodgers star, is that he’s doing it as a designated hitter, which plays down his overall numbers because defense is added into the equation.
His 27.3 offensive value is so important, and his 204 wRC+ is well above anyone else in MLB. His .653 slugging percentage is tops in the league in addition to his 1.077 on-base plus slugging.
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