[mdtoday = Reporter Kim Gyo-sik] Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers has fallen into a rare hitting slump since arriving in Major League Baseball.
Ohtani went 0-for-3 on May 4 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis during the Dodgers’ road game against the Cardinals.
The outing extended a hitless stretch to four games that began with the April 30 matchup against the Miami Marlins. He was 0-for-14 over that span. According to the Associated Press, it’s his longest dry spell since a five-game skid (0-for-12) in late May 2022, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani’s 0-for-12 across the three-game St. Louis series is the longest single-series hitless stretch of his big-league career, and his cold bat has stalled a Dodgers offense that had been carrying strong power numbers.
Including Monday’s game, the Dodgers have gone six straight games without a home run — their longest drought since July 2014. That’s a stark contrast to their early-season surge, when they hit 45 homers in 34 games and ranked second in the National League in team home runs.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the AP he believes the slump stems from a mechanical issue with Ohtani’s swing. “He didn’t look great over the series,” Roberts said, noting a number of pulled grounders and fly balls that looked late. “There’s a slight issue with his mechanics, but I expect him to find his form soon,” he added, expressing confidence in the player.
While his bat has cooled, Ohtani has remained dominant on the mound. In five starts this season he is 2-1 with a 0.60 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP, underscoring his continued value as a two-way force.
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