Shohei Ohtani is experiencing a slow start at the plate this season, despite performing well as a pitcher. He has allowed just one run over his first three starts, positioning himself as a contender for the Cy Young award.
Apr 21, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reaches out to hit a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Ohtani flew out to deep right field. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has gotten off to a slow start at the plate despite staying healthy up until this point in the season.
Ohtani has been stellar as a pitcher, allowing just one run over his first three starts, showing stuff and the ability to induce weak contact.
He is truly in the Cy Young race, especially if he keeps it and continues to pitch on his current schedule with his current effectiveness.
Additionally, Ohtani is riding a 53-game on-base streak, tied for the second-longest in Dodger history with Shawn Green. He has the chance to become the sole player with the No. 2 spot if he gets on base again on Wednesday.
Shohei Ohtani has expressed that he is 'not comfortable' at the plate, contributing to his slow start.
Ohtani has excelled as a pitcher, allowing only one run over his first three starts and showing strong performance.
If Ohtani maintains his current pitching effectiveness, he is considered a strong contender for the Cy Young award.
Shohei Ohtani plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2026 MLB season.
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Apr 21, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reaches out to hit a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Ohtani flew out to deep right field. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
The Japanese talent is getting fed a ton of balls, which is leading to his high walk rate and an on-base streak that continues.
Ohtani’s streak is something that should be celebrated, given his reputation in the league as a dangerous hitter has led to a cautious approach from opposing pitchers.
“It speaks to his talent,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “Shawn had a great streak. For him to tie that streak … says a lot about Shohei.”
However, the numbers show that Ohtani is not at his typically high level as a hitter.
Ohtani has a slash line of .271/.396/.494 with five home runs and 11 RBIs. His wRC+, which measures his run creation, is his lowest since 2022.
Roberts admits that Ohtani is still not looking his best in the batter’s box, especially in terms of his swing.
“He’s really not hit his stride yet. He’s really not comfortable with his swing. It just shows that he’s an impact player.
“He’s getting on base. The streak speaks to that. If we could just get him going and a couple others, we’ll put up some crooked numbers.”
What is notable about his hitting decline is that his 2022 season, when he was last struggling this much, was the season when he pitched the best.
Ohtani has made it clear that, after consecutive MVP awards and hitting achievements, he wants to earn pitching hardware and cement his legacy as equally great on both sides of his play.
Naturally, his focus on pitching has seemingly taken away from his swing getting enough attention, though as he continues to play and eventually gets into a rhythm, Ohtani should be up there with the best in short order.
His underlying metrics point to him still crushing the ball and making a ton of contact with his bat, and they should turn into extra-base hits and home runs soon.