After the game, Ohtani spoke to reporters following a strong pitching performance—7 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, and 8 strikeouts—despite taking the loss due to limited run support. He also addressed the reasons behind his recent struggles at the plate.
Coming into the game, Ohtani was in the midst of a career-worst 0-for-24 stretch. Amid the slump, he adjusted his usual two-way schedule and focused solely on pitching for the third time this season. Although he allowed two solo home runs—his first of the year—he completed 7 innings for the first time in three years, dating back to July 27, 2023, with the Angels. He also reached the qualifying innings threshold again, and his ERA dropped to a league-best 0.97.
As a hitter, Ohtani has yet to find his rhythm, batting .240 with 6 home runs and 14 RBIs through 35 games. He acknowledged the struggles, saying, “Offensively, including myself, we haven’t been very good.”
When asked about the cause, he offered a detailed self-assessment:
“I think the biggest thing is the swing path. When it’s right, I’m able to hit the ball the way I should and get good results. I thought it might just be an issue with my stance, but there are probably multiple factors. I want to keep trying different things and figure out exactly what’s off so I can step into the box feeling clear.”
Despite his dominance on the mound—including winning Pitcher of the Month for March/April—Ohtani rejected the idea that pitching is affecting his hitting:
“It’s not that I can’t hit because I’m pitching. It’s simply that I’m not in a good hitting position or rhythm. I’m not in a good state mechanically, so I’m not getting results. It’s pretty straightforward.”
Before the previous game, Ohtani took the unusual step of holding on-field batting practice, hitting 22 balls out in 55 swings. He rarely takes outdoor BP during the season due to fatigue concerns, but has used it before—most notably during last year’s postseason—to work through slumps.
Explaining the session, he said with a laugh:
“Yesterday, it was more like I was told to do it, so I did.”
He added that going into a start with a clearer understanding of his swing is more important than immediate results:
“Rather than going into a start without any idea what’s wrong with my hitting, it’s better to feel like I’ve identified something—even if the results aren’t there yet. If I understand the cause, I can pitch with a clearer mind.”
Ohtani closed by emphasizing his steady mindset:
“Like I said earlier in the season, I don’t get overly excited when things are going well, and I’m probably not as pessimistic as people think when I’m not getting hits. It’s a long season, and I just want to take it one game at a time. Baseball is part of my daily life.”
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