Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani said he was 'Trying too hard' with RISP due to Angels past

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has made history astatine nan sheet his debut play pinch nan franchise — which will apt consequence successful him winning nan 2024 National League MVP Award contempt being a designated hitter. However, if location has been 1 flaw successful his violative attack this season, it's been pinch runners successful scoring position, and nan logic he has fixed for those comparative struggles is fascinating.

"Ohtani, early connected this season, was saying to nan hitting coaches, ‘I find myself anytime nan bases are loaded aliases there's a runner successful scoring position, trying excessively difficult because I'm trained to consciousness for illustration this is going to beryllium our only shot' because that was nan business for six years of his profession successful Anaheim [with nan Los Angeles Angels]," FOX Sports and Dodgers lead play-by-by play announcer Joe Davis said astir Ohtani during nan team's Wednesday nighttime triumph complete nan NL West rival San Diego Padres.

"And, so, he's had to rewire himself to not effort to triumph nan crippled each clip he gets an at-bat pinch a runner successful scoring position, not effort to beryllium nan hero."

Ohtani spent nan first six seasons of his MLB profession pinch nan Angels (2018-23). In that time, he won 2 American League MVPs, but nan Angels ne'er made nan playoffs aliases moreover had a winning season.

Ohtani's slash statement pinch runners successful scoring position successful his first twelvemonth pinch nan Dodgers is .270/.379/.489 — league-average numbers but a notable dip from his different historical gait crossed nan board. They're besides beneath his profession averages pinch runners successful scoring position, wherever he boasts a .291/.418/.604 slash line.

Ohtani has totaled an NL-high 53 location runs, 125 RBIs and 56 stolen bases this season, while boasting a .303/.386/.642 slash line. He precocious became nan first subordinate successful MLB history to station a 50-50 play (50 location runs, 50 stolen bases).

As for nan Dodgers' Wednesday nighttime triumph complete nan Padres, Ohtani went 2 for 3 pinch 2 RBIs, including an RBI azygous for nan eventual game-winning tally successful nan sixth inning. The triumph improved nan Dodgers to 94-64, bully for a three-game lead connected nan Padres for first spot successful nan NL West and putting them a half-game up connected nan Philadelphia Phillies for nan champion grounds successful nan NL up of Thursday night. 

Meanwhile, nan Angels are 63-95, pinch superstar outfielder Mike Trout coming disconnected different injury-riddled season, being constricted to 29 games owed to a torn meniscus; Trout has played successful nary much than 82 games successful 4 of nan past 5 seasons owed to injury.

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