Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup on May 13 after a day off to rest after he was removed the day before with back tightness.
There wasn’t an overwhelming amount of initial concern, and his insertion back into the order has mitigated any thoughts of long-term issues.
Ohtani is currently on an upwards trajectory with his play, leading Major League Baseball in several offensive categories.
Ohtani isn’t thought to be nursing the ailing back anymore, but the Dodgers training staff will monitor him going forward, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Roberts said that issue has been “completely resolved” but the Dodgers’ trainers will “keep an eye on” Ohtani.
After Tuesday’s win over the San Francisco Giants, Ohtani owns a 211 wRC+ with 12 home runs, 30 RBI, 34 runs scored and 9 stolen bases.
His 446 foot blast was the longest home run in Oracle Park in two years, approaching Barry Bonds territory in distance.
Since May 3, Ohtani carries a .447/.523/.895 slash with five home runs and 11 RBI. With how much torque he has in each swing, the training staff keeping their eyes on his back is as much as they can do.
Where Shohei Ohtani ranks among big league hitters
Entering play on May 15, Ohtani holds the big league lead in OPS (1.107), slugging percentage (.680), and batting average (.361).
His 29 extra base hits clear the next man, with three players having 22. With 115 total bases, Ohtani is providing the Dodgers with an unbelievable amount of scoring opportunities.
