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Shohei Ohtani is the best and only two-way player in baseball. At his best, he’s one of the best hitters in baseball and an elite pitcher. Right now, he’s really not a great hitter. He is, however, making up for it on the mound by upping his game there. Usually, he’s a better hitter than a pitcher, but right now, it’s the opposite. He’s dominating on the mound, but his bat is not nearly as fearsome.
Shohei Ohtani gets a little time off during cold streak
In the past, Shohei Ohtani has been on the field every single day. He’s an everyday DH, and when he’s pitching, he’s also a starting pitcher as well as the DH. This year, though, as his bat lags behind, the Dodgers have taken a different approach.
In three out of the four turns of the rotation, Ohtani has pitched but not hit. And on Thursday, he won’t do either. It’s a rare off day for the slugger who has not hit to his normal levels thus far. He has an OPS under .800 and just seven home runs. That’s a far cry from the outsized expectations he’s built for himself with a sterling career so far.
“I talked to the team and I’m good with it,” Ohtani said about getting some time off and not hitting when on the mound. “My last at-bat as a hitter yesterday was really good, so I want to continue that momentum whenever I get to hit again.”
For the first time in four seasons, Ohtani is attempting to be a pitcher and a hitter for the entire season. He used to do it all the time, but the Dodgers have been cautious, especially since he had Tommy John surgery a couple of years ago.
No health concerns
Tommy John surgery doesn’t ruin pitchers like it used to, but it’s still a damaging procedure. It can have long-term effects. The Dodgers were exceptionally slow with Shohei Ohtani’s rehab from the surgery, and they’re still cautious. But right now, the time off has nothing to do with an injury.
“First and foremost, the fact that I’m not injured, that’s a good thing,” Ohtani said of his fatigue level with an increased role this season. “I do want to contribute more offensively. I haven’t done so this year, so I’m looking forward to doing that.”
It’s mostly about preserving him and maximizing him. It is an incredible strain to pitch every few days and hit every single day. Ohtani’s not as young as he once was, and he can’t handle as much stress as he used to. There’s a reason he’s the only player in eons to even attempt doing both with any regularity.
“Ideal situation is to be great on both sides of the ball,” Ohtani said, “but how I look at it is, if I’m not contributing offensively, then I know I can contribute on the pitching side of things.” For now, he’s an elite pitcher with a 0.82 ERA and a decent hitter with a 122 wRC+. Most teams would still take that every day of the week.
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