The Mystery of Shohei Ohtani's Hitting Slump: Is It All in His Head?
In a quiet moment at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani's entrance song, "Feeling Good" by Michael Bublé, set the stage for an intriguing chapter in his remarkable two-way career. Ohtani, the Dodgers' phenom, took to the field for a rare batting practice session, a move that hinted at the urgency he felt to break out of his hitting slump.
While the Dodgers have been on a roll in these playoffs, Ohtani's bat has gone cold. Since the wild-card round, he's managed just two hits in twenty-five at-bats, with twelve strikeouts. His recent RBI single in the National League Championship Series snapped a fifteen-at-bat hitless streak, a worrying trend for a player of his caliber.
But here's where it gets controversial: Ohtani denies that his dual role as a pitcher and hitter is to blame. "I don't think pitching has affected my hitting," he said through an interpreter. "It's a work in progress, and I'm constantly trying to improve my mechanics and stance."
Ohtani's performance in the wild-card round against the Cincinnati Reds was a bright spot, with two home runs. However, he struggled against the Philadelphia Phillies' left-handed pitchers, going hitless in thirteen at-bats. The Milwaukee Brewers have adopted a similar strategy, throwing their best left-handed relievers at him. Despite this, Ohtani has only reached base three times in twenty-two plate appearances against lefties in these playoffs.
"I understand their strategy," Ohtani said. "I'm focused on improving the quality of my at-bats. That's my main goal."
Ohtani's schedule has been a topic of discussion, with the Dodgers initially planning to have him pitch in Game 1 or 2 of the NLCS. However, the decision was made to hold him back for Game 4, with manager Dave Roberts citing the need to line up Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for potential double starts. Roberts praised Ohtani's at-bats in Milwaukee, despite his low hit count, highlighting his ability to control the strike zone and stay aggressive.
Ohtani's overall performance in 2025 has been impressive, with a slash line of .282/.392/.622, fifty-five home runs, and twenty stolen bases. However, when he also pitched, his slash line dipped slightly to .222/.323/.556. When asked if he needs time to adjust to his two-way role, Ohtani remained steadfast in his belief that it hasn't affected his hitting.
"I know I might sound repetitive, but I truly believe it hasn't impacted my offensive performance. I had a good season, and I feel confident in my abilities."
The question remains: Is Ohtani's hitting slump a mental block, or is there more to it? What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss this intriguing aspect of Ohtani's journey.
