Shohei Ohtani addressed reporters on June 24, 2026, explaining how he and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing work together to make in-game adjustments by reading hitter reactions and maintaining ongoing communication.
Ohtani holds pre-game meetings with Rushing before every game to share information on opposing hitters. "It's something that we always do — talk through the hitters in pregame meetings before the game," Ohtani said during the press conference. He noted that those discussions serve as a foundation, but the game plan can shift once action begins.
Ohtani described in-game flexibility as central to his pitching process. "It's more of the in-game sort of flexibility — just reading the swings, reading how the hitters are really taking the approach during the game," he explained, adding that he identifies where adjustments are needed as each at-bat unfolds. He also noted that the same communication-based approach was applied in his previous start.
Ohtani acknowledged that early in the inning he was pitching with hesitation, and that the uncertainty showed in his results. He stated that after that stretch he was able to pitch with greater conviction, and credited decisive pitch selection and game-planning as key factors in his stronger performance. "Committing to the approach — the sequencing and pitch selection — and just going with it was one of the reasons for the good pitching," he added.
Ohtani emphasized that no single fixed method drives his success with Rushing, stating that consistent communication is the essential element. "It's not just one thing — you have to make sure you're communicating properly throughout," he noted, underscoring that the adjustment process between pitcher and catcher is continuous rather than predetermined.