Shohei Ohtani Faces Critical Batting Issue, Big Hits Evade Superstar Slugger Amidst Early Season Slump

The star acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers – Shohei Ohtani, has yet to find his groove. Well, being at the plate is not new to him, however, his hitting – particularly his power hitting, has been apparently absent. Is this just an issue as he enters the early days of the season? Or is a serious timing issue hindering the two-way phenom?

Ohtani boasts a decent .273 batting average, however, when one looks through a magnifying glass, it reveals a concern. A lack of extra-base hits. With only one double to his name in five games, the homer machine has not launched a single long ball yet. For fans expecting monstrous numbers like that of his previous seasons, this is quite a contrast. 

Shohei Ohtani Acknowledges Timing Issues

The culprit behind the two-way phenom’s struggles appears to be a timing issue. In his words, “I feel like I’m seeing the ball well, but there’s a little bit something off with my timing and being able to kind of feel the distance between the ball and myself.” Knowing that Ohtani himself understands his flaws speaks volumes about not only the team’s but also his own expectations of himself. 

The fact that he feels the disconnect between his vision and swing mechanics is resulting in a certain degree of frustration. Like the one that ended the game against the St. Louis Cardinals with the bases loaded.

On one hand, the Japanese superstar’s early struggles are unfathomable. On the other hand, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains confident in his Unicorn. He emphasizes that Ohtani “saw the ball well” in his final at-bat and simply “missed it.”  He further believes that Ohtani will “get going” soon, and there is “no cause for concern.”

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Have the Los Angeles Dodgers Lost Their Charm? 

Despite the loss, there were positive takeaways for the Dodgers. The young pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto displayed a stellar performance in his Dodger Stadium debut. He tossed five scoreless innings. Moreover, his command and control were on point further showcasing his potential as a valuable asset in the rotation.

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Even though the Dodgers dropped their first game at home this season, they’ve displayed a never-say-die attitude. They fought back hard from a deficit and almost clinched victory with Ohtani at the plate with the bases loaded. Mookie Betts’ hot streak went on with his fourth consecutive home run, and the team’s overall fight suggests they’re a force to be reckoned with.

So yes, the Blue Crew continue to be intimidating even though Ohtani’s timing woes are a cause for monitoring. Once Ohtani finds his rhythm at the plate, the Dodgers’ offense could become explosive like none other.