Shohei Ohtani Changes Hitting Routine Ahead Of Dodgers’ NLDS Opener

Shohei Ohtani made a noticeable change to his usual preparation as the Dodgers continued working toward Saturday’s National League Division Series opener.

Ohtani joined his teammates for on-field batting practice at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, an uncommon sight for a player who completes much of his hitting work privately inside the batting cage or against the Trajekt pitching machine.

The adjustment comes as Ohtani tries to sharpen his timing following a late-season injured-list stint and an uneven return over the Dodgers’ final five games.

Dave Roberts believes the healthier version of Ohtani arriving in October could look considerably different from the compromised hitter the Dodgers saw during the final two months of the regular season.

“I feel confident that you’re going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “I know that’s sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time.”

Ohtani Uses Dodgers’ Bye To Rebuild His Timing

The Dodgers’ first-round bye gave Ohtani five days between the end of the regular season and NLDS Game 1.

Los Angeles wanted him to use that time for additional hitting work, including live at-bats and sessions against the Trajekt machine. Joining the team’s on-field batting practice added another element to that preparation.

Ohtani has occasionally moved his work onto the field when he wants to see the full flight of the baseball or make an adjustment that is more difficult to evaluate inside the cage.

Roberts has seen the change produce results before.

“Most of the time when he does this, it works,” Roberts said.

One batting-practice session does not guarantee Ohtani’s swing will immediately return to its early-season form. It does, however, show that he is actively searching for the right feel before the Dodgers begin their postseason run.

Dodgers Believe Improved Health Will Lead To Better Results

Ohtani returned from the 15-day injured list on September 23 after dealing with inflammation in his right biceps and soreness in his left knee.

He went 5-for-21 with one extra-base hit, one walk and eight strikeouts during his five games back. The results were mixed, but the Dodgers were more concerned with how his body responded to playing every day.

Brandon Gomes said Ohtani came through those games feeling good physically, giving him an opportunity to focus more fully on his swing during the break.

That represents a meaningful change from the weeks leading up to his IL placement.

Ohtani hit .198 with 34 strikeouts across 109 plate appearances during his final 24 games before going on the injured list. That stretch coincided with his attempted return to pitching and the accumulation of discomfort in his knee and biceps.

Roberts believes those physical limitations played a significant role in the decline.

“I think that he did everything he could to manage it, all the while being somewhat compromised,” Roberts said. “And I think that he’s going to be as healthy and feel as good as he’s felt.”

Dodgers Need Ohtani To Reestablish Himself At The Top

Despite his injuries and extended slump, Ohtani finished the regular season batting .275 with an .889 OPS and a team-leading 30 home runs.

Those numbers reflect how productive he was before his health began affecting his performance.

The Dodgers do not necessarily need Ohtani to immediately recreate his best stretch of the season. They need him to control the strike zone, punish mistakes and create pressure at the top of a lineup that will also feature Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández.

A healthy Ohtani changes the way opposing pitchers must navigate the entire order.

“No. 1, he’ll be a threat being in the lineup,” Roberts said. “But I do think that the performance piece will be what we’re hoping for.”

Wednesday’s batting practice was another step toward finding that performance before Saturday.

The Dodgers have spent much of the past two months managing Ohtani’s health and waiting for his impact bat to return.

Now, with the NLDS approaching, they believe he is finally in position to give them the best version they have seen in weeks.

Do you expect Ohtani to break out when the Dodgers begin the NLDS on Saturday?