Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (32) raised his batting numbers in a flash by recording multi-hit games in three straight games.
On the 6th (all times KST), Ohtani started as the No. 1 designated hitter in the game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., and went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and one run scored against the Washington Nationals.
After striking out swinging as the leadoff hitter in the top of the first, Ohtani took Foster Griffin's fourth pitch, an 88.8 mph (142.9 km/h) cutter, in the third with one out and launched a leadoff solo home run. The exit velocity was 114.6 mph (184.4 km/h) and the distance was 438 feet (134 m). It was his second home run of the season.
With the Dodgers trailing 1-6, Ohtani came to bat for the third time with one out in the fifth and hit a double, but the rally failed to produce a run as the next batters could not drive him in. In the seventh, he led off but was retired on a grounder to first base.
The Dodgers tied the game 6-6 in the eighth. In his final at-bat with one out and runners on first and third, Ohtani hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Dodgers the lead. The Dodgers won 8-6 and extended their winning streak to three games.
After elbow surgery in September 2023 and shoulder surgery in November 2024, Ohtani began his first full season as a two-way player since joining the Dodgers this year. As a pitcher, he made his first appearance on April 1 against Cleveland, tossing six innings, allowing one hit, three walks, one hit batsman, striking out six and giving up no runs to earn the win.
Ohtani had a clean start as a pitcher but had frustrations at the plate. Through April 2 his OPS remained at .590. Some suggested that resuming two-way duties in earnest was affecting his hitting. Ohtani himself said, "I'm still getting on base and that's good," but added, "Even when I hit what should have been a pitch that produces a result, the expected result doesn't come out. It feels like my timing is a bit off," expressing frustration with his hitting.
But Ohtani, as always, began to regain his form at the plate. In the three-game road series in Washington that began on the 4th, he produced six hits in 15 at-bats, including his first homer of the season, with two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored. Recording multi-hit games in three straight contests, his season totals rose to a .273 average (9-for-33) with two home runs, seven RBIs, five runs and an OPS of .880 in nine games.
Ohtani is being mentioned as one of the leading candidates for the Cy Young Award this season. The Cy Young is the only major individual award Ohtani has not yet achieved. Ohtani himself appears to be focusing more on pitching this year. There are opinions that his focus on pitching is affecting his hitting. Nevertheless, Ohtani once again proved his ability at the plate and has eased some of those concerns.
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