LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani had gone ten home games without a long ball — a relatively quiet stretch by his standards — but on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, he broke out in emphatic fashion. The Dodgers’ superstar launched two home runs, including the 250th of his career, in an 11–5 rout of the San Francisco Giants.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Ohtani acknowledged that the drought had been on his mind. “I’d been feeling like it had been a while,” he said. “So to be able to hit not just one but two today, and in a game that mattered, it felt good. That first home run especially — setting the tone early as the leadoff hitter — I thought that was a big one for the team.”
Ohtani, who served as the Dodgers’ designated hitter, stressed the importance of preparation, noting that he’d placed extra focus on his stance before the game. “I believe the setup is everything,” he said. “Before the game, I made sure to double-check my posture and balance. I think that helped me get into a good rhythm.”
The two-way star admitted that the intense workload of balancing hitting with his eventual return to pitching has made physical maintenance more complex. “There’s no doubt that throwing in live BP settings puts a lot of strain on the body,” he explained. “It’s something I have to go through to make sure I’m physically right, but it’s definitely a challenge.”
Although he hasn’t yet returned to the mound, Ohtani is ramping up behind the scenes. He confirmed that he’s progressing through live sessions and building intensity carefully. “I think I’m getting close to being able to throw at full effort,” he said. “There’s no substitute for actual game reps, but the build-up has been going well.”
He added that while last season he focused solely on hitting following his elbow procedure, returning to the two-way format is his preferred state. “Playing both ways — hitting and pitching — that’s really my normal style,” Ohtani said. “Once I’m back, I just want to treat it like I always have and settle into that rhythm.”
Ohtani also touched on his approach as a leadoff hitter, something that’s become a regular feature for the Dodgers this season. “I think the first at-bat of the game is one of the most important,” he said. “Pitchers and teams come in ready to challenge you early, especially in tight games. So I try to stay aggressive in the zone from the start.”
Friday’s first-inning solo homer — crushed to right-center on the fourth pitch he saw — reflected that aggressive approach and immediately set the tone for the Dodgers’ offensive explosion.
Away from the field, Ohtani also reflected on the recent passing of Japanese baseball icon Shigeo Nagashima. Although Ohtani never saw Nagashima play live, he had the opportunity to meet him and speak at length. “He was a wonderful person,” Ohtani said. “From the conversations we had, I could really feel his deep love for the game of baseball. Even during meals, he would only want to talk about baseball.”
Ohtani said he was saddened by the news of Nagashima’s passing but emphasized the importance of honoring that passion. “I hope those of us still playing can carry forward that same enthusiasm and pass it on to the next generation,” he said.
As for his lack of stolen bases this season, Ohtani dismissed the idea that he’s been intentionally holding back. “Most of the time when I’ve been on first base, there’s been someone ahead of me, or I’ve been there after a walk,” he explained. “And lately, I’ve just been hitting a lot of home runs instead. So it hasn’t really been necessary to run much.”
Ohtani’s performance on Friday was a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when locked in. And as his return to the mound inches closer, he appears increasingly comfortable handling both sides of his unique role.
“For now,” he said, “it’s just about staying focused and keeping my body ready. Once I’m back to doing both, I think everything will feel normal again.”
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