Before the Dodgers’ game against the Giants, Shohei Ohtani (31) conducted a voluntary outdoor batting practice. The two-way star took 52 swings across six sets, sending 17 balls over the fence.
Earlier in the day, Ohtani threw a bullpen session in preparation for his scheduled start against the Giants on September 13 (Japan time). After finishing his pitching work, he switched to batting practice. According to hitting coach Aaron Bates, Ohtani personally requested to take batting practice outdoors.
This marked only the second time this month that Ohtani has taken outdoor batting practice before a game, a routine that had been rare for him. The previous session occurred on September 4 in Houston against the Astros, where he recorded 55 swings on the advice of the hitting coach. He has been repeatedly fine-tuning his feel at the plate.
So far this season, Ohtani has appeared in 37 games as a hitter, posting a .241 batting average with six home runs and 16 RBIs. Although he has shown signs of recovery, his hitting has remained uncharacteristically inconsistent for an extended period compared to previous years. The voluntary extra work underscores his determination to break out of the slump and regain his form as the season progresses.
