Remember when Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was struggling at the start of the season? Yeah, I don’t either.
Those struggles seem like ages ago, as Ohtani has been playing at an MVP level, even though he is just playing the DH position this season.
What Ohtani is doing this season is not normal. This is why the Dodgers went all out to acquire a player that is truly one of one, and we will never see anyone like him. Ohtani is a specimen and has been playing out of his mind of late to elevate the Dodgers.
The 29-year-old is doing it all for the Dodgers and his manager, Dave Roberts. Roberts has a front-row seat to the Ohtani show day in and day out, and he’s been in for quite a show in the last couple of days.
Roberts spoke to the media after the team’s opening series loss to the Los Angeles Angels and elaborated on what’s currently working for his superstar slugger.
“I think he just took a step back and understood what they were trying to do and when he’s really good, and so he sort of reset himself and really made a point to control the zone,” Roberts said.
— Dave Roberts, via Medium
In the last seven games, Ohtani has hit an insane six home runs, 13 RBIs, one stolen base, 10 runs, and 13 hits in 27 at-bats. Something has come over Ohtani, and it could be moving up to batting first in the lineup, although he’ll be quick to deny it.
“(It isn’t a) really meaningful change,” Ohtani said. “I think first at-bat is a little different.”
—Shohei Ohtani, via Medium
Roberts admitted that this was the hottest he had seen Ohtani, and the numbers do not lie.
The Japanese sensation is on a heater. Although it’s come without his fellow superstar teammate Mookie Betts, it’s great to see Ohtani put the Dodgers on his back and make sure they’re not skipping a beat without Betts.
Ohtani has been worth every penny for L.A. thus far.
