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

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has made history at the plate in his debut season with the franchise — which will likely result in him winning the 2024 National League MVP Award despite being a designated hitter. However, if there has been one flaw in his offensive approach this season, it's been with runners in scoring position, and the reason he has given for those relative struggles is fascinating.

"Ohtani, early on this season, was saying to the hitting coaches, ‘I find myself anytime the bases are loaded or there's a runner in scoring position, trying too hard because I'm trained to feel like this is going to be our only shot' because that was the situation for six years of his career in Anaheim [with the Los Angeles Angels]," FOX Sports and Dodgers lead play-by-by play announcer Joe Davis said about Ohtani during the team's Wednesday night victory over the NL West rival San Diego Padres.

"And, so, he's had to rewire himself to not try to win the game every time he gets an at-bat with a runner in scoring position, not try to be the hero."

Ohtani spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Angels (2018-23). In that time, he won two American League MVPs, but the Angels never made the playoffs or even had a winning season.

Ohtani's slash line with runners in scoring position in his first year with the Dodgers is .270/.379/.489 — league-average numbers but a notable dip from his otherwise historic pace across the board. They're also below his career averages with runners in scoring position, where he boasts a .291/.418/.604 slash line.

Ohtani has totaled an NL-high 53 home runs, 125 RBIs and 56 stolen bases this season, while boasting a .303/.386/.642 slash line. He recently became the first