Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hasn’t hit much in 2026, but his approach at the plate has caught his manager’s eye.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke to the media ahead of the Dodgers’ series finale against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday and praised the reigning MVP for his plate discipline in the early portion of the 2026 season.
“It’s been a small sample this year but in general, he’s probably there in the middle,” Roberts said. “He’s doing a good job.”
Ohtani is off to a slow start with the stick in 2026 and has just three hits through 15 at-bats, but has managed six walks through the first five games of the season—leading the National League. He has a .455 on-base percentage this season, which would rank as his career-high if he maintained this level of production throughout the entire season.
The four-time MVP isn’t any stranger to getting on base, and has led his respective league in on-base percentage in two of the last three years.
How has the Dodgers’ Offense Performed as a Whole?
While Ohtani hasn’t been on his game, the same is true for most of the Dodgers’ offense.
Their 106 wRC+ through five games ranks 11th, dropping them several spots from their second-place finish in 2025. Additionally, Ohtani is doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of walks, as the Dodgers have the 21st-ranked walk percentage in MLB through five games.
While their offense isn’t quite performing up to standard, the Dodgers are still getting the job done due to some fantastic displays from both their starting rotation and bullpen.
Is Shohei Ohtani Still Pitching for the Dodgers?
Ohtani has more than just hit hitting to worry about in 2026, as he is entering his first full season as a pitcher with the Dodgers.
He made his first regular season appearance of the year against the Guardians on Tuesday, and lasted six innings in his season debut. He gave up one hit while striking out six batters, and didn’t allow a run during the outing.
The right-hander returned as a pitcher in 2025 after missing more than a year on the mound due to Tommy John surgery, and had a solid season with the Dodgers after coming back. He made 14 starts for LA, keeping a 2.87 ERA through 47 innings pitched and striking out 62 batters.
Ohtani’s performance Tuesday is a promising sign for Dodger fans, who are itching to see a full season of the best player in the world at his full potential.
What have you made of Shohei Ohtani’s season so far, both at the plate and on the mound?
