Shohei Ohtani is a master of managing his demanding schedule, balancing the unique workload of being a two-way player. Yet, even the four-time MVP knows when it’s time to tweak his routine.
Ahead of the Dodgers' showdown with the Guardians, Ohtani decided to join his teammates for some on-field batting practice-a rare move for him. Typically, he prefers the indoor cage unless he’s searching for something specific in his swing.
After the game, Ohtani, through interpreter Will Ireton, shared, “I’ve been able to get on base, so that’s a good thing. But on pitches that I should be making impact, I’m not able to do that to the extent that I should be able to. That’s the part I’m not quite happy about.”
This change in routine caught some attention, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitting his surprise. “He doesn’t do that often.
I think he was looking for some feel, the flight of the baseball. Sometimes when he doesn’t feel well, he likes to change up his routine and get on the field to see the flight.
So, yeah, I was surprised,” Roberts noted.
Ohtani entered the series finale against the Guardians with a modest 3-for-15 start to the season. Unfortunately, his on-field practice didn’t immediately alter his luck, as he went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 4-1 loss. One of those strikeouts came at a crucial moment, ending the eighth inning with two runners on base.
However, the walk was significant, extending Ohtani’s on-base streak to an impressive 37 games, the longest of his career. This streak, which stretches back to the 2025 season, ties him with Andre Ethier (2011) for the ninth-longest in the history of the Los Angeles franchise.
Ohtani’s decision to hit on the field isn’t without precedent. He famously did so during the National League Championship Series, leading to a stunning three-homer performance against the Brewers. Fans also witnessed his on-field batting practice during the World Baseball Classic, where he put on a show.
As the Dodgers and Ohtani look for this adjustment to pay off, he remains without an extra-base hit in his first 18 at-bats this season. But if history is any indicator, it’s only a matter of time before Ohtani finds his groove and starts making the kind of impact we’ve come to expect from this extraordinary talent.