Even Shohei Ohtani, the best in the world, was reprimanded by his manager; after 106 plate appearances with just one home run and a batting average of 0.129 in May, the manager said, "Your swing is too late."

*This content was translated by AI.

LA Dodgers' two-way player Shohei Ohtani (32) is experiencing an unusual slump in batting. As he struggles with a severe home run drought, the manager has finally stopped hiding his sharp criticism.

On the 11th (Korea time), Ohtani went hitless in four at-bats in a home game against the Atlanta Braves at the UCLA Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, USA. Starting as the designated hitter in the first spot, he struck out with a swing-and-miss in the first inning, hit a line drive to the second baseman in the third, flew out to the center fielder in the sixth, and grounded out to the first baseman in the seventh.

The Dodgers lost 2-7, improving their season record to 24 wins and 16 losses, but they now share the top spot in the National League West with the San Diego Padres. The team has also been struggling recently, posting a 4-6 record in their last 10 games.

Japanese media outlet Full Count reported on the day with the headline "Manager Roberts reprimands struggling Ohtani," stating, "A barrage of sharp questions was directed at Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (54) during his post-game press conference."

According to the media, Manager Roberts pointed out about Ohtani, "There were several instances where his swing on fastballs was late. Normally, a ball coming at belt height would have gone over the fence, but now it's a bit late, and the bat is coming from below." He added, "If he were in good condition, those balls would have been doubles or home runs, but they've become fly outs to left field. The lack of extra-base hits means his condition isn't good. Right now, his timing is off."

Japanese media Higashi Sports Web focused on Ohtani's home run drought. The outlet stated, "Ohtani's last home run was his sixth solo shot of the season, hit in his fourth at-bat against the Chicago Cubs on April 26 (local time). This marks 10 consecutive games and 46 consecutive plate appearances without a home run." It further noted, "His fifth home run of the season dates back to his first at-bat against the Texas Rangers on April 12. In other words, he has hit only one home run in 106 plate appearances, putting him in a situation that is uncharacteristic for Ohtani."

Higashi Sports Web reported, "As Ohtani's powerful arcs have disappeared, American media have finally begun to stir." It added, "One American site commented on Ohtani's slump, saying, 'Even the gods of baseball show weaknesses at times. The power that once intimidated any pitcher now seems sealed. The majestic image of hitting home runs has lost some of its former impact.'"

Ohtani, who won the home run title in the American League in 2023 (44 home runs) and the National League in 2024 (54 home runs), hit 55 home runs last year, placing second in the league behind Kyle Schwarber (33, Philadelphia Phillies, 56 home runs). However, this year, he has only hit six home runs in 40 games. He trails the current National League home run leader, Schwarber (16 home runs), by 10 home runs.

His season batting average stands at 0.241 (34 hits in 141 at-bats). In particular, since May, he has fallen into a slump, batting 0.129 (4 hits in 31 at-bats) in eight games. This contrasts sharply with his performance as a pitcher this season, where he has appeared in six games, posting a 2-2 record, a 0.97 ERA (six earned runs in 37 innings), and 42 strikeouts.

Manager Roberts said, "At this point, we will continue to use Ohtani as the leadoff hitter," but also expressed regret, "Given the high expectations, there must be pressure. His performance isn't terrible overall, but considering who Ohtani is and the record he has built up, he is clearly falling short of expectations."

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*This content was translated by AI.