Ohtani Eyes Historic Season, Downplays Cy Young Focus
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar, is preparing for a potentially historic 2026 season, aiming to return to full form after navigating recent elbow injuries. While the possibility of adding a Cy Young Award to his already impressive collection looms, Ohtani maintains his primary focus is on health and consistent performance throughout the year.
The four-time Most Valuable Player, a two-time World Series champion, and World Baseball Classic winner is seeking to become the first player to achieve the rare feat of winning both MVP and Cy Young awards. The only major honor missing from his resume is the pitching accolade.
“Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday, as pitchers and catchers began spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. “I think it’s fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation. But we just want him to be healthy and make starts,” Roberts added. “All the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves.”
Ohtani arrives at spring training having completed his first fully healthy offseason since signing with the Dodgers in December 2023. He underwent two right elbow surgeries in 2023, sidelining him from pitching for a significant period. He returned to the mound last June, contributing to the Dodgers’ championship run.
Despite his return to pitching, Ohtani is expected to be a full-time two-way player for the first time since 2023. He will not pitch for Japan in the upcoming Baseball World Classic, instead prioritizing a ramp-up plan designed to prepare him for a full season with the Dodgers.
“I’m not really sure how I’ll be able to practice in the WBC setting, so I’m going to try to ramp up as much as I can to the point where I’m throwing a live (batting practice), which should be next week,” Ohtani said. “That’s at least the goal, to be able to ramp up to the point where I’m throwing live BPs.”
Ohtani’s best two-way season to date came in 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels, where he posted a 15-9 record with a 2.33 earned run average and finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting. He was behind Justin Verlander, Dylan Cease, and Alek Manoah that year.
The pursuit of a Cy Young Award, Ohtani emphasized, is a byproduct of sustained health and consistent performance. “Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season,” he explained. “So if that’s the end result, that’s a good sign for me.”
Ohtani will face stiff competition for the National League Cy Young Award. Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, the 2025 winner, is expected to contend again, as is Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. To be a serious contender, Ohtani will need to be utilized as a regular starter throughout the season.
The Dodgers, fresh off securing back-to-back World Series titles – defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a thrilling Game 7 just 105 days prior – are hoping a healthy Ohtani will propel them to even greater heights in 2026. The team’s pitchers and catchers began their spring training workouts on Friday, signaling the start of a season filled with high expectations.
