After the game, Ohtani spoke to reporters following a strong pitching performance\u20147 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, and 8 strikeouts\u2014despite taking the loss due to limited run support. He also addressed the reasons behind his recent struggles at the plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014his first of the year\u2014he 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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, \u201cOffensively, including myself, we haven\u2019t been very good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about the cause, he offered a detailed self-assessment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think the biggest thing is the swing path. When it\u2019s right, I\u2019m 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\u2019s off so I can step into the box feeling clear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite his dominance on the mound\u2014including winning Pitcher of the Month for March\/April\u2014Ohtani rejected the idea that pitching is affecting his hitting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that I can\u2019t hit because I\u2019m pitching. It\u2019s simply that I\u2019m not in a good hitting position or rhythm. I\u2019m not in a good state mechanically, so I\u2019m not getting results. It\u2019s pretty straightforward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014most notably during last year\u2019s postseason\u2014to work through slumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Explaining the session, he said with a laugh:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYesterday, it was more like I was told to do it, so I did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that going into a start with a clearer understanding of his swing is more important than immediate results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRather than going into a start without any idea what\u2019s wrong with my hitting, it\u2019s better to feel like I\u2019ve identified something\u2014even if the results aren\u2019t there yet. If I understand the cause, I can pitch with a clearer mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ohtani closed by emphasizing his steady mindset:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike I said earlier in the season, I don\u2019t get overly excited when things are going well, and I\u2019m probably not as pessimistic as people think when I\u2019m not getting hits. It\u2019s a long season, and I just want to take it one game at a time. Baseball is part of my daily life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"