MLB
Dodgers not worried about Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts has come out in defence of the Japanese player, who has had a disappointing start to the season.
Shohei Ohtani is the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season while he recovers from the elbow injury that impedes him from pitching. However, the Japanese superstar is not having the best start to the season - he’s yet to his first home run in the eight games he has played.
Ohtani has had 33 at-bats in which he has scored five runs, eight hits and three RBIs. Numbers that are atypical for Shohei Ohtani and he has become the sixth best player in the Los Angeles Dodgers offense. Currently Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández are the leaders in the attack with five and four home runs respectively.
Dave Roberts defends Ohtani’s start
In 2023, the Japanese all-rounder hit 44 home runs in 135 games with the Angels in the American League and is expected to surpass that number this year with the Dodgers. The team’s manager, Dave Roberts, commented that he is not worried about this start to the season since he is a very talented player and will find his rhythm at any moment.
“He’s very talented,” the coach said. “The hits, the slug, all of that will pass… The most important thing is that he is healthy and plays good baseball.” The sports betting scandal in which he is embroiled may be affecting his approach at the start of the season, but when he overcomes that mental barrier, the Dodgers will have the best offense in the Major Leagues.
The Los Angeles franchise has scored at least five runs in the first eight games with Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman showing up for the team. When Ohtani finds his rhythm, the Dodgers will be a very difficult team to stop.