The Los Angeles Dodgers have been facing a challenging stretch lately, managing just four wins in their last ten games. A tough sweep by their long-time rivals, the Angels, exposed some serious vulnerabilities within the squad, making the team appear more fragile than dominant.
However, during Demon Slayer Friday Night at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers flipped the script with a tight 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres, snapping their losing skid and climbing back into a tie for first place in the National League West.
Still, beneath this positive moment, several cracks continue to show. Injuries are mounting, the starting rotation remains unstable, and now a veteran hitter has also been sidelined. At the center of this storm is Shohei Ohtani, the team’s two-way superstar.
Earlier in the season, as the Dodgers’ rotation was ravaged by injuries, many speculated that Ohtani might accelerate his return to pitching duties. But as the offense now sputters and other key players deal with health setbacks, the focus has shifted toward his performance at the plate.
In response to the growing pressure, Ohtani has revealed a surprising change to his approach that has even caught MLB analysts off guard.
Ohtani’s adjusted swing
On a recent episode of Locked on Dodgers, MLB analyst Pete Fox highlighted a notable tweak in Ohtani’s batting style. “Shohei Ohtani shortens his swing to put the ball in play,” Fox remarked. This adjustment marks a shift away from Ohtani’s trademark big, explosive swing. Instead, he’s adopting a more compact, controlled swing designed to improve contact and consistency.
Despite this change, Ohtani’s mechanics remain highly impressive. His stride length currently measures 51.8%, positioning him between power hitters Aaron Judge (47.9%) and Juan Soto (66.3%). Meanwhile, his bat speed sits at 75.5 mph, comfortably above the MLB average of 72 mph.
This indicates that while his swing is more compact, he continues to generate elite power, making it difficult for pitchers to exploit weaknesses with off-speed or well-placed pitches.
This new approach arrives at a critical time for the Dodgers, who recently received troubling news regarding Max Muncy. The veteran slugger was placed on the injured list again due to a Grade 1 strain in his right oblique, the second time this season.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Muncy’s recovery will exceed the standard 10-day period, deepening the offensive burden on Ohtani and others.
Despite leading the league in many key offensive stats, second in runs per game at 5.16, with strong marks in home runs and on-base plus slugging percentage, the Dodgers’ offense has experienced significant slumps. Over a recent 10-game stretch, the team averaged only 3.4 runs per game, with six contests yielding three runs or fewer.
Throughout these tough periods, Ohtani has emerged as a beacon of consistency. He has homered in four consecutive games and crossed the plate 115 times this season, putting him on pace to score 154 runs if he finishes the Dodgers’ remaining 41 games. His production isn’t just valuable, it’s essential.
As the Dodgers prepare for the grueling final months of the regular season and the pressures of October baseball, Ohtani’s ability to adapt and contribute both at the plate and on the mound gives the team a rare and invaluable advantage.
In a season fraught with injuries and unpredictability, Ohtani’s evolving approach could well be the key to the Dodgers’ success.
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