Shohei Ohtani is back on the bench just one day after rejoining the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup, and Dave Roberts says the move is about easing him back in after four games away.
Ohtani sat out Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds after returning Monday night, when he finally got back in the lineup following a four-game absence that began last Thursday. Roberts said the Dodgers liked what they saw from the night before, but wanted to keep the process gradual.
“Physically, he looked good, he came out of it feeling strong, feeling healthy,” Roberts said after Monday's game. “Just to get a day under his belt, four at-bats, and him to come out of it not going backwards was important, and we accomplished that.”
On Tuesday, Roberts made it clear the plan was to “build him up slowly” after the time off. He added that Ohtani could still be available off the bench and is expected to return to the lineup for Wednesday’s series finale.
The update came after Ohtani spoke to reporters for the first time in three weeks following Monday’s game. Through interpreter Will Ireton, he acknowledged that he was not fully healthy, but said he hoped to manage the issue over the final three weeks of the regular season.
“It’s hard to really feel 100% at any time in the season,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “So I wouldn’t say I’m there.
But the concerns are the arm and the [knee]. ... I’ve been training a little bit more, doing just supplementary things to be able to make sure that I’m in a good place.
I hope to continue to do that to make sure that I’m up to shape."
Ohtani has also been in a rough stretch at the plate. Over his last 15 games, he is hitting .186, and over his last seven he is just .077, going 2-for-26.
Even with the skid, Ohtani said he believes he has enough experience to handle whatever comes up and get himself right before the season ends.
"I should have enough experience to be able to address any kinks or injuries or anything like that with the swing," Ohtani said. "I’m going to use this as an opportunity to add on to the experience that I’ve had previously and be able to address it regardless.”
Roberts said after Monday’s game that he would wait to see how Ohtani felt the next day, and Tuesday’s lineup decision showed the Dodgers were not ready to push him any further.
“I think we got through tonight,” Roberts said on Monday. “For me, I’ll just see how he feels tomorrow.”
Clearly, that was not enough to put him back in the lineup just yet.
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