Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani stayed late Tuesday to work through a funk.
Why the Dodgers are keeping Ohtani in the lineup
Roberts and the Dodgers said on Tuesday that Ohtani will stay in the lineup despite his struggles and injuries, after speaking with the superstar.
Ohtani said he felt good enough to play and was “adamant” he could help the team at the plate.
That conversation was enough for the Dodgers to trust their superstar, and they’re willing to do so.
“He couldn’t be more of a team player, more agreeable. He was here late last night working on his swing… he couldn’t be more of a joy. He’s great for the game and great for all of us,” Roberts told Dodgers Nation and the media on Wednesday.
Shohei Ohtani’s after-hours work
Roberts noted that Ohtani repaid the Dodgers for their faith with extra work that was intense, diligent, and stood out from his usual routine.
“He expects a lot from himself, and he hasn’t performed to his expectations… this was a different look from Shohei yesterday, and that’s an understatement,” the skipper said.
He is a special competitor and player, which is what drove him to become arguably the best player ever, and it may also be why he will never admit defeat as injuries limit his play.
Ohtani has taken several steps to break out of the slump, including changing his routine, hitting batting practice on the field before the game, and getting a ton of swings in with reworked mechanics to battle through discomfort and pain.
He’s hit just 3-for-24 in the postseason so far, with three walks and seven strikeouts. In the NLCS specifically, things have gotten worse. Ohtani is 1-for-7 with a walk.
While the production isn’t good, Ohtani failing to reach fastballs and pitches he usually gets ahold of is even more concerning.
If Ohtani can speed up his swing and foul off some pitches, he can get more competitive at-bats. The issue is that his swing is naturally that of a hard-hitting slugger who goes for power.
According to the Dodgers’ hitting coaches, Ohtani is really trying to find a good mechanical change that can lead to better results.
He feels close, and Game 3 of the NLCS will show whether or not it is enough.
