HOUSTON — Shohei Ohtani arrived at Daikin Park three hours before first pitch Monday, already putting in a full day's work before most fans had even settled into their seats. Stuck in a frustrating 0-for-14 slump, the Dodgers' two-way star hit the field early for a rare on-field batting practice session, taking 55 swings to try and find his rhythm.

Minutes later, he emerged from the clubhouse in full uniform, pitcher's mitt in hand, heading to the bullpen for some light throws ahead of his scheduled mound start the next day. By the time he returned to his locker, he collapsed into his chair, taking a moment to catch his breath before diving into the rest of his game-day preparation.

It's a reminder that even for Ohtani—a four-time MVP with near-superhuman abilities—the full-time two-way role demands everything from body, mind, and heart. He's done this before, excelling as both a pitcher and hitter for the Angels from 2021–2023 and returning from his second Tommy John surgery last year with the Dodgers. But the first month of this season has shown that re-acclimation isn't always seamless.

By Monday night, that struggle led to another shift in his workload. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts initially planned to have Ohtani serve as DH during Tuesday's start, but after the team's 8–3 win over the Astros, he reversed course, deciding Ohtani would focus solely on pitching. It's the third time in his last four outings that the superstar has been limited to one job on the mound—a sign that even legends need to adjust their game plan when the bat goes cold.