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Shohei Ohtani is feeling great physically and will continue hitting during the Dodgers’ bye week ahead of the NLDS, per staff at MLB.com. The organization’s confidence that Ohtani will be back to being an impact bat at the top of the lineup heading into October competition validates that his late-season injury management has positioned him for postseason availability without long-term physical complications. Ohtani’s continued hitting work during the bye week ensures he’ll maintain offensive rhythm heading into championship baseball rather than losing timing during an extended layoff.

Shohei Ohtani has been one of baseball’s most transcendent talents throughout his career, combining elite two-way performance with the kind of athletic excellence that separates generational players from those operating at normal levels. Ohtani’s 2026 season has been complicated by injury management that forced him to miss significant time, but his late-season return positioned him to contribute at championship levels as we enter October. For Ohtani personally, his report that he’s feeling great physically represents a significant shift from the uncertainty that surrounded his availability status just weeks ago. The organization’s confidence that he’ll be an impact bat at the top of the lineup validates that his physical condition has improved sufficiently to allow for aggressive postseason deployment. For Ohtani personally, the opportunity to continue hitting work during the bye week rather than taking extended rest ensures he maintains offensive timing and competitive readiness heading into the NLDS. The hitting work during the layoff reflects organizational confidence that Ohtani’s physical status supports continued preparation rather than demanding full rest. For Ohtani personally, this validation that he can continue aggressive preparation heading into October provides confidence that he’ll be positioned to deliver championship-caliber performance when the postseason begins.

For the Dodgers, Ohtani’s report of feeling great physically and his continued hitting work during the bye week represents exactly the organizational validation we needed heading into October competition. We’ve managed Ohtani’s injury concerns throughout the second half with the primary goal of positioning him as an impact contributor during the postseason rather than risking further complications during regular season games. The bye week provides opportunity for additional physical recovery while the organization maintains offensive continuity through continued hitting work. Ohtani positioned at the top of our lineup with championship-caliber execution represents one of baseball’s most impactful offensive threats heading into the NLDS. His report of feeling great physically combined with his continued preparation validates that he’ll be available for Game 1 deployment and positioned to execute at the championship levels we’ve constructed this roster around. We’re entering the NLDS with confidence that Ohtani will be ready to deliver, backed by his personal report of physical health and the organization’s confidence in his postseason deployment. That’s exactly the clarity we needed heading into October.

Source(s): Staff (MLB.com) | First reported: September 30, 2026 1:32 AM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers