The Toronto Blue Jays have made one thing clear — they’re not changing course, even in the face of Shohei Ohtani’s relentless hitting streak. Despite the two-way superstar’s recent offensive explosion, the Blue Jays insist their strategy of issuing intentional walks and pitching cautiously to him remains the smartest play.
Ohtani, who has been tearing through opposing pitchers with home runs and multi-hit games, once again punished mistakes at the plate during the recent series. Yet, Toronto’s coaching staff believes that minimizing damage, even if it means surrendering a walk, gives them the best chance to contain baseball’s most feared hitter.
Manager John Schneider defended the approach, saying, “You pick your battles with a player like Ohtani. He changes games with one swing, so discipline on the mound matters more than ego.”
While fans have expressed frustration watching Ohtani reach base freely, the numbers back up the Blue Jays’ cautious game plan — limiting his power threats and forcing other hitters to deliver. For now, Toronto’s message is simple: respect Ohtani’s talent, but don’t feed it.
