According to U.S. sports website The Sporting News, Shohei Ohtani’s recent power outage—spanning 11 games and 51 at-bats without a home run—stems from a disrupted swing rhythm and a tendency to panic when behind in the count. The site reported on May 12 (May 13 in Japan) that Ohtani’s mechanics have fallen out of sync, causing him to rush and pull the ball prematurely, especially in two-strike situations.
Observers note that the two-way star has been chasing breaking balls outside the strike zone, a sign of impatience as he tries to break out of his slump. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also echoed concerns, stating that Ohtani appears “anxious” at the plate and is “trying to swing his way out of it.” Despite hitting just one home run in his last 23 games, Ohtani remains a key offensive threat, but adjustments are clearly needed.
The slump has drawn widespread attention, with analysts pointing to a lack of rhythm in his load and timing. Ohtani’s recent batting practice sessions have shown flashes of power—including a towering blast over the fence—but the consistency hasn’t carried into games. The team is reportedly considering giving him a full day off to reset, though no decision has been finalized.
As the Dodgers prepare for their upcoming series, all eyes will be on Ohtani to see if he can rediscover his groove and snap the longest home run drought of his MLB career.
