Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was seen doing something he never does—hitting in batting practice on the field.
In a video released by the Dodgers, Ohtani takes at-bats with the rest of the team.
The swing looked good, with no real discomfort or wincing from the Dodgers superstar. He also appeared to be getting full rotation and showed no indication of any compromise.
Ohtani and the Dodgers will get another three days of this kind of light work before Game 1 of the NLDS.
While he looked good, Ohtani’s choice to hit on the field departs from his usual routine.
Shohei Ohtani’s regular routine
Ohtani is known for hitting in the batting cage and off the Trajekt machine.
The batting cages are a more private experience with less going on, which lets the hitter focus more on their mechanics.
The Trajekt machine is a modern innovation that lets a player receive balls delivered by a pitcher, allowing them to simulate certain pitchers and their unique pitching styles.
Typically, Ohtani sticks to these two avenues, but every now and then, he does deviate. Back in early May, Ohtani hit on the field before a game amid a cold stretch.
According to manager Dave Roberts, when Ohtani changes his routine like this, he tends to improve.
“Most of the time when he does this, it works,” manager Dave Roberts said
What the Dodgers expect in the postseason this year
Ohtani is still not fully healthy, battling a right arm injury and left knee soreness that will leave him somewhat compromised for the rest of the season.
Still, after sitting for more than a week towards the end of the season and getting a bye week to rest up, Dave Roberts and the Dodgers are optimistic Ohtani will be better than his recent play indicates.
“I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts told media, including Dodgers Nation.
“I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time. Every day from the training staff, it keeps getting better.
“So yeah, No. 1, he’ll be a threat being in the lineup, but I do think that the performance piece will be what we’re hoping for.”
Somehow, with a ridiculous rotation and several hot hitters, the Dodgers don’t need the full uninjured version of Ohtani, just one that can punish mistakes at the plate and give pitchers something to fear.
