In Phoenix, over 450 media members, fans, and onlookers gathered along a backfield at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ complex on Friday morning. They watched Shohei Ohtani play catch before moving to observe him throw 27 intense pitches from a mound. This session signals the launch of spring training and, crucially, Ohtani’s comeback to a full-time two-way role.
Healthy Offseason Sets Stage
Ohtani completes his first fully healthy offseason since joining the Dodgers in December 2023. He returns to starting pitching after a second elbow surgery. Now, he prepares to balance pitching and hitting across a demanding six- to seven-month season with a team renowned for maximizing player performance. Expectations soar sky-high.
As the two-time defending champion Dodgers kick off their first official 2026 workout, discussions center on the Cy Young Award—the one major honor missing from Ohtani’s collection.
When asked if winning it ranks as a goal, Ohtani replied through an interpreter: “If at the end, the result is getting a Cy Young, that’s great. Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season, so if that’s the end result, that’s a good sign for me. What I’m more focused on is just being healthy the whole year.”
Impressive Track Record
During repairs to his ulnar collateral ligament, Ohtani posted a 34-16 record with a 2.84 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels from 2021 to 2023. In 2022, he placed fourth in American League Cy Young voting.
Last year, in his Dodgers pitching debut, Ohtani returned to the mound in mid-June. He gradually increased his pitch count, delivering a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings. He recorded 62 strikeouts and only nine walks. In the postseason, he made four starts—including one on three days’ rest—with a 4.43 ERA that belied stronger underlying metrics.
Ohtani described his two-way performance deep into the season as a “really good experience overall” but noted he “did feel the effect of it.” He added: “In that sense, it’s an experience that I plan to hold onto.”
Manager Roberts Praises Command
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts marveled at Ohtani’s command following a nearly 21-month pitching break. Roberts highlighted Ohtani’s command of breaking pitches and his knack for varying them, suggesting untapped potential. “There’s certainly a lot more in there,” Roberts said. “Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those. 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. All the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves.”
Path to Opening Day
Ohtani, who will hit but not pitch for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, arrived at the Dodgers’ facility in early February. He completed initial bullpen sessions before public access. He aims to face hitters next week during full-squad workouts, positioning him for a rotation spot by Opening Day.
Entering his age-31 season, Ohtani boasts four unanimous MVPs over five years. His first two Dodgers campaigns include pioneering the 50/50 club, two Silver Slugger awards, and back-to-back championships under a $700 million deferred contract. Many already hail him as baseball’s greatest ever, with more achievements likely ahead.
Ohtani keeps his 2026 goals straightforward: “Just being healthy the whole year as a pitcher and as a hitter. I think that’s good for me, obviously, but also good for the team.”
