Two-Homer Blast Ends Drought, Fuels Anticipation for Pitching Return

Shohei Ohtani, the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently ended a rare power outage. He had gone ten games without a home run, a first for him this season.

On Saturday, Ohtani broke the streak with two home runs against the San Francisco Giants. This performance marked his fifth consecutive season with at least 25 home runs. His first homer of the game traveled 419 feet.

Before the game, Ohtani had gone 10 for 40 with no RBIs since his last home run. He followed up his first home run with another in the sixth inning. This second home run of the game brought his season total to 25, putting him close to the league leaders.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted that Ohtani's performance seemed to get him "back on track." Ohtani himself acknowledged the feeling of not having hit a home run in a while, emphasizing the significance of his first homer in the game.

Ohtani's recent performance came after he was named the NL Player of the Month for May. He reached base four times and scored three runs in his first four at-bats, including two walks.

Ohtani's recent home run drought was the longest since the final ten games of his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. He has consistently hit at least 34 home runs and driven in at least 95 runs over the past four seasons.

While his overall performance is similar to last year, Ohtani is behind in some statistical categories compared to last season. However, he doesn't attribute this to his increased workload as he prepares to pitch again.

Ohtani recently threw simulated innings and is potentially preparing to pitch in a game before the All-Star break. He emphasized the importance of live batting practice in his progression.

Ohtani remains committed to resuming his career as a pitcher. The Dodgers support this, recognizing his value as a two-way player. He views returning to his two-way role as a return to normalcy.