*This content was translated by AI.
'Shohei Ohtani (32), the "superstar" of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a product of Japan, is struggling to fire his bat this season, drawing concerned attention from local media. Has even the flawless "God of Baseball" revealed a weakness?
'On the 11th (Korea time), Ohtani started as the designated hitter for the first spot in the home game against the Atlanta Braves at the "2026 Major League Baseball (MLB)" held at the Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA. He went 0-for-4 with one strikeout, remaining silent. The team also suffered a decisive 2-7 loss, bowing its head at home. The Dodgers, now on a two-game losing streak, also lost the home series against Atlanta.
'The most painful aspect is the disappearance of Ohtani's signature "majestic arc." Since hitting his sixth solo home run of the season in his fourth plate appearance against the Chicago Cubs on April 27, Ohtani has gone 10 games (46 plate appearances) without a home run.
'Looking more broadly at Ohtani's plate appearances, the situation is even more unusual. Since his fifth home run of the season on April 13, he has hit only one home run in 106 plate appearances. Considering Ohtani's reputation as the "home run factory manager," this is a severe power drought. His May performance has also been poor. In eight games as a hitter in May, he has batted just 0.129 (4 hits in 31 at-bats). Considering his combined batting average of 0.273 (30 hits in 110 at-bats) for March and April, this is a sharp decline.
'As Ohtani's performance stalled, local media reacted immediately. The U.S. baseball specialty site "Al Bat" ran a sensational headline: "Has Shohei Ohtani lost his shine?" The outlet noted, "What separates a great player from a temporary star is consistency, but even the 'Gods of Baseball' (referred to as the Gods of the Diamond) show weakness at times," highlighting Ohtani's slump.
'It further added, "The power that once made pitchers tremble seems to be sealed up now. The imposing figure that used to hit home runs is no longer delivering the same impact," offering sharp criticism.
'However, even amidst the criticism, confidence in Ohtani's skills remains. The outlet pointed out that "Ohtani still maintains influence on the offensive side," noting his streak of reaching base in five consecutive games through the 10th.
'It also added a positive outlook, stating, "Slumps are fate in baseball, and true legends are born during times of hardship. Since Ohtani has already proven his extraordinary talent, a temporary decline in power will not erode his overall influence."
'Currently, the Dodgers are struggling with a 4-5 record this month, intertwined with Ohtani's silence. After facing the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and Atlanta in succession, they allowed losing series in all three games except against Houston. The world's baseball fans are watching closely to see when the "decisive hit" will come to break the season of trials that has befallen the seemingly perfect "God of Baseball," Shohei Ohtani.
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*This content was translated by AI.
