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Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani took part in pre-game practice at the opposing team’s ballpark on the 10th (the 11th in Japan time), sporting a fresh new haircut. With the division series having wrapped up in four games, the resulting downtime is believed to have given him a chance to get a trim. During outdoor free batting practice, he set up a pitching machine at close range—about 8 meters away—to sharpen his timing against hard throwers, taking an unusual 71 swings, including one notable whiff on a swing aimed at the batter’s eye in center field. Reactions on 5ch were split between posters who welcomed the haircut and the new training method, and others who mocked him by tying it to his recent batting slump and his personal life.
Shohei Ohtani Debuts Fresh Haircut — Unusual Training in Pre-Game Practice: Machine Set Up at Close Range to Counter Hard Throwers, With a Surprising Whiff on a Bid for the Batter’s Eye — 71 Swings at a Range as Close as 8 Meters
Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani took part in pre-game practice at the opposing team’s stadium on the 10th (the 11th, Japan time). Sporting a fresh haircut, he worked up a sweat, and during outdoor free batting practice he ran through an unusual machine-hitting session to prep for hard-throwing pitchers.
When Ohtani showed up on the field, he gave off a noticeably cleaner look. With the division series ending in Game 4 and some downtime opening up, he’s believed to have found time for a haircut. His sideburns and the area around his ears were neatly trimmed, and he was also seen sharing a laugh with Max Muncy in the dugout.
Source: sportsbull.jp / Original article here
What people said
Back when Ippei was around, he kept his grooming on point (Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's former interpreter)
Who did he say that to again?
And where's that player now
Just look at him flinching and whiffing on that ABS challenge—he clearly can't read where the ball's coming at all
(QB House = a Japanese chain known for cheap 10-minute cuts) They should just get the guy a personal stylist already
Now that he's getting older he's starting to look just like his dad lol
Background and Key Points of This Topic
The Dodgers, Ohtani’s team, wrapped up this division series in four games, and the resulting travel downtime is believed to have given him the chance to get a haircut. Hitting off a machine set up at close range—about 8 meters away—is a training method meant to sharpen reaction speed against hard throwers’ fastballs; the “unusual” part mentioned in the article refers to the machine being placed closer than normal. On the thread, comments were split between those who took the haircut positively, linking it to a fresh start or change of pace, and those who argued—citing his recent batting slump—that he should have shaved his head entirely. Several posts also referenced Ippei Mizuhara, who previously served as Ohtani’s interpreter, but Mizuhara had his contract terminated in 2024 over an illegal gambling scandal and no longer travels with the team. Baseless speculation and disparaging comments about Ohtani’s personal life have been excluded from this article.
*This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[MLB] Shohei Ohtani Debuts Fresh Haircut — Unusual Training in Pre-Game Practice, Machine Set Up at Close Range to Counter Hard Throwers.”
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