After criticism for base running, Shohei Ohtani practiced running before the game.

During yesterday's away game versus the Baltimore Orioles, Dodgers' Japanese player Shohei Ohtani reached base in all five at-bats and launched two homers, yet his base running in the top of the 9th was criticized. Therefore, he conducted an uncommon base running practice before today's game.

In the top of the 9th inning yesterday, with no outs and runners on first and second, Mookie Betts hit a deep line drive that hit the left field home run wall. The runner on second scored directly, but Ohtani, who was originally on first base, only advanced to second base.

Even the Dodgers' broadcast commentators and analysts expressed confusion over why Ohtani stopped at second base, speculating that he might have thought it was a home run and stood watching the ball. They also pointed out that the Dodgers' current five-game losing streak is partly due to such small details being overlooked.

In response, Ohtani engaged in a rare practice session before today's game. According to Japanese media reports, he first spent a few minutes on throwing and catching drills, then moved near second base where, under the watchful eye of coach Chris Woodward, he practiced hitting judgment drills for about three minutes.

Woodward commented that although it is very unusual for Ohtani to do this kind of training before a game, the team has been conducting these drills over the past three weeks because they have made some base running errors, such as double plays on fly balls or failing to correctly judge balls hit into areas without fielders. Therefore, he asked the players if they wanted to combine running practice with batting drills.