Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and hitter Shohei Ohtani took to the field for an outdoor batting practice before the game against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, marking his third such session this season as he looks to break out of a recent slump.
Ohtani, 31, alternated between a silver-and-black mascot bat and his regular black game bat, fine-tuning his swing. In his first round of eight swings, he failed to clear the fence, but gradually increased his power. Over 52 swings, he launched 17 home runs, including a towering estimated 160-meter blast that hit the roof above the “Daiso” sign in right-center field.
Since the start of the season, Ohtani has played 40 games as a hitter, batting .241 with six home runs and 16 RBIs. He has gone without a home run in his last 10 games and 46 plate appearances since April 26 against the Chicago Cubs.
Outdoor batting practice on the field before games is rare for Ohtani. His previous outdoor sessions this season were on April 1 against the Cleveland Guardians and on May 4 against the Houston Astros.
After his start on May 5 against the Astros, Ohtani was asked about his approach to batting practice. “Honestly, I was told to do it, so I just did it,” he explained. “I usually don’t do much the day before a start, but rather than going into a game without finding the cause of my struggles at the plate, I thought it would be better to have something to work on. It’s not about the results—if I can clearly identify the issue, I can take the mound with a clear mind.”
Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates, who watched the session, revealed that Ohtani requested the batting practice himself. “He told us he wanted to hit,” Bates said. “Today, he was hitting to all fields. Everything looked good.” Bates expressed confidence that Ohtani’s return to form is near.