MLB Notes: Shohei Ohtani Thriving as the Leadoff Hitter

MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani has made a seamless transition to leadoff hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Penciled into the top spot in the batting order after teammate Mookie Betts broke his left hand while hitting against the Kansas City Royals on June 16, Ohtani has excelled, looking comfortable and confident. At the same time, he's tormenting opposing pitchers.

In his first eight games as Betts' replacement at leadoff hitter (through Tuesday, June 25), Ohtani went 13-for-31 (.429 batting average) with five home runs, three doubles and 14 RBIs. He also walked eight times in that span.

Ohtani sparked the Dodgers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, belting a leadoff homer to right-center on a 2-2 pitch from Chris Flexen in the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. It was Ohtani's National League-leading 24th homer. He also leads the NL in batting (.320).

The fan favorite, who batted second in the lineup before Betts was injured, also delivered a tiebreaking single in the fourth inning. 

Adding to his impressive power display in June (he's hit 10 homers this month), Ohtani drove in a run for the ninth consecutive game on Tuesday. He matched a team record last accomplished by Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella in 1955 when the franchise was based in Brooklyn, New York.

Ohtani deflected the credit, pointing to his team as the catalyst for his success as a hitter.

"Regardless of the RBI streak, I think it's really about the team creating the opportunities to be able to drive in the run," Ohtani said, according to MLB.com.

Insights on Ohtani's Ongoing Success as an MLB Player

After the NL West-leading Dodgers improved to 50-31 with a win on Tuesday, LA manager Dave Roberts commented on Ohtani's noteworthy performance as a hitter in recent games.

"He is obviously crazy talented, but people feed off of his eagerness to swing the bat," Roberts said, according to MLB.com

The manager added, "I think right now, he's just got the tunnel vision on having good at-bats. And that's why all these homers and runs batted in and runs scored, all these good things are happening."

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is also in awe of Ohtani's exceptional abilities as a player.

Freeman summed it up this way: "I think we've said everything we can since he's entered this league about what an amazing player he is. … Sometimes, you've just got to step back and just appreciate a player like this."

On Monday, Ohtani was named the NL Player of the Week for the second time this season. From June 17-23, he hit .458 with four homers, three doubles and 11 RBIs.

Red Sox DH Yoshida Struggling at the Plate

In his last seven games, Boston Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida went 5-for-27 with one RBI.

On Tuesday, June 25, Yoshida smacked a line-drive, run-scoring double in the second inning to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the third, and Boston lost 9-4.

Yoshida's batting average stood at .240 following the Red Sox's 80th game of the 162-game campaign. The Red Sox (43-37 through June 25) have won eight of their last 10 games.

A day earlier, Yoshida had a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, his first multihit game since April 27. Boston triumphed 7-6 on Monday against Toronto. After the game, Yoshida said his team is headed in the right direction.

"This was a game where the team showed momentum," Yoshida told NHK. "I think the team is in good shape."

Tigers' Maeda Falls to 2-4

Detroit Tigers right-hander Kenta Maeda lost his second consecutive start on Saturday, June 22 against the visiting White Sox.

Maeda (2-4) was tagged for eight hits and three runs in 4⅔ innings, striking out five and walking none. When he left the game, the Tigers trailed 3-0. Chicago held on for a 5-1 victory.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch pinpointed Maeda's struggles to key aspects of several at-bats.

"He has a hard time getting into the [strike] zone early in at-bats which puts a ton of pressure on his pitches as he gets deeper in the count," Hinch said, according to The Detroit News. "Earlier in the game, he found a way to get that out or that miss, but later he didn't."

Although his split-finger fastball was effective, Maeda wasn't able to shut down the White Sox.

"It was just a combination of everything," Maeda was quoted by The Detroit News as saying through an interpreter. "I got into counts with the splitter. It just happened to be other pitches I gave up hits on. The catcher (Jake Rogers) gave the signs and I agreed. I agreed with all the pitches I made."

Blue Jays' Kikuchi Endures Rough Outing Against Guardians

Toronto Blue Jays lefty Yusei Kikuchi had his shortest start of the MLB season on Sunday, June 23, lasting just two-plus innings against the Cleveland Guardians.

The veteran lefty gave up eight hits and four runs. He walked one and fanned three in the Blue Jays' 6-5 road loss. 

Kikuchi left the game after facing four batters in the top of the third inning and failing to record an out.

What was the 33-year-old's reaction to his performance on the mound?

"I'm disappointed that I had to exit the game early," Kikuchi told reporters at Progressive Field. 

He added, "I wanted to turn the tide for the team, [and] I think I have to review things such as my pitch sequence and habits."

Kikuchi (4-7, 4.00 ERA) has made 13 starts this season.

In his previous start, against Boston on June 17, Kikuchi allowed five runs, including four home runs, and seven hits in four innings in Toronto's 7-3 setback.

RELATED:

• MLB Notes: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sidelined with a Shoulder Injury
• MLB Notes: Shohei Ohtani on Pace to Shatter Career-High Total in Stolen Bases

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.