The Los Angeles Dodgers fell 2-7 to the Atlanta Braves on May 10 (May 11 Japan time) at Dodger Stadium, with Shohei Ohtani going 0-for-4 as the designated hitter. It was his first hitless game in four contests, extending a stretch of struggle. Over his last 22 games as a hitter, Ohtani has managed just one home run, and even when flashes of his usual form appear, he can’t seem to lock in his feel at the plate.
The key to his recovery lies in returning to the fundamentals—swinging at strikes—along with the return of Mookie Betts, who had been sidelined with a right oblique injury, and some timely words of wisdom from a teammate. Beyond self-adjustment, team support is crucial. Let’s explore the conditions for his anticipated rebound.
Ohtani was aggressive at the plate on Friday but couldn’t square up the ball. Manager Dave Roberts noted, “It looks like he’s late on fastballs. He’s the type of hitter who usually drives the ball hard up the middle or to the opposite field, but right now he’s getting jammed a bit.”
As Ohtani himself mentioned after the Astros game on May 5, there seems to be a disconnect between his setup and the initial swing path. One data point offers a clue to his recovery. In his hot streaks, Ohtani consistently executes a simple “swing at strikes, take balls” approach. According to MLB’s Statcast via Baseball Savant, his “meatball swing rate” has dropped significantly this season. The average over the past eight years was 79.7%, but this year it’s just 65.8%. Part of the reason is that pitchers have been attacking him aggressively since Opening Day, giving him fewer hittable pitches.
Betts’ return could provide a boost. Roberts confirmed that Betts will bat second or third starting against the Giants on May 11, calling it “a spark for the whole team.” If the hitters around Ohtani are hot, opponents will be forced to pitch to him, possibly ending the constant game-planning against him. More strikes would naturally make it easier to focus on “swing at strikes.” The manager added, “He’ll inject energy into the team. The momentum will shift.”
Teammate Max Muncy also offered some “golden words” that hint at a turnaround. After hitting a two-run homer, Muncy said, “Maybe everybody’s trying a little too hard. Don’t get too high when you’re hot, don’t get too low when you’re cold. Stay in the middle. That’s what you need to get through 162 games.” This echoes advice hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc gave Ohtani and other key hitters early last September when the lineup was slumping: “Don’t overdo it. In golf terms, just shoot for par.” Shortly after, Ohtani mashed two home runs and the lineup reignited.
Relax the shoulders, keep it simple, swing at strikes. While it’s undeniable that Ohtani’s slump has lasted longer than usual, his swing aggression is starting to return. Compared to 2022, when he completed a full season as a two-way player and hit 34 homers, his current batting stats are not far off. The season is still early, in May. With a combination of his own adjustments and the team’s collective synergy, he can carve a path back to full form.
