Shohei Ohtani Shines in Open Games with .300+ Average, Sets Sights on Batting Title!

Missed strikeouts are “Good”!

The superstar who struck out looking had a somewhat satisfied expression on his face, nodding slightly as he returned to the bench.

On March 9 (Japan time), Shohei Ohtani (30) played in an open game against the White Sox, striking out swinging in his first at-bat and striking out looking in his second, finishing the game hitless for the first time.

“That said, Ohtani is in great form, having hit a home run off Yusei Kikuchi (33), his high school senior, in a March 1 game against the Angels. His batting average in the open games is over .300, and he’s also hitting for power. There were concerns about the impact of the shoulder surgery he underwent in the offseason, but there seems to be no issue at all,” said a reporter covering the scene.

Sports writer Natchi Tomonari points out, “Rather, the strikeout looking on the 9th holds the key to his strong batting performance.”

“That at-bat didn’t look like he was caught off guard or struggling. He was checking the borderline strike zone and making fine adjustments to his pitch selection. As proof, he’s swinging less aggressively compared to the same period in previous years and avoiding borderline pitches until he has two strikes. That’s why he’s been able to maintain a high average early in March.”

Ohtani became the Dodgers’ leadoff designated hitter midway through last season and led off in the World Series, where they won a fierce battle against the Yankees to claim the championship.

“This season, he is also likely to be used as the leadoff hitter, so Ohtani is focusing on improving his on-base percentage and batting average. He’s deliberately putting himself in two-strike situations and working on fouling off pitches or drawing walks. He’s likely aiming for an on-base percentage over .400 this season,” Tomonari explained.

His strong form is also evident in his ability to hit to the opposite field. His first home run of the open games, off Kikuchi, was a shot to left field off a high, outside fastball without resisting the pitch’s movement. His double in the March 7 game against the Rangers also sharply drove down the left-field line.

This demonstrates that he is able to let the ball travel deep into the zone before making contact. The ability to hit to all fields directly correlates to improved contact rate and batting average. Having won home run and RBI titles last season, Ohtani may now be aiming for the batting crown that narrowly eluded him.

“So far, Ohtani hasn’t been taking full swings in his at-bats. Right now, he’s testing a contact-oriented approach, focusing on average. Once the season starts, he will likely switch back to his usual power-hitting style. A new Ohtani, capable of both styles, could be on track to win his first Triple Crown,” Tomonari continued.

While his return to the mound as a pitcher has been delayed, his batting remains in top form. When the season opens with the Cubs series at Tokyo Dome on March 18-19, he will undoubtedly showcase his evolved hitting approach.

This season, the Samurai without weaknesses will shine even brighter and dominate Major League Baseball.

From the March 28, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”