The lone jewel missing from Shohei Ohtani's crown? It's the Cy Young Award, and he's setting his sights on it.
Shohei Ohtani's trophy case is already overflowing. He's a five-time All-Star, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a two-time World Series champion, and a World Baseball Classic victor. This collection of accolades paints a picture of a baseball resume that's simply unmatched by any other player today. Yet, there's one significant individual honor that has eluded him: the prestigious Cy Young Award.
Given his extraordinary talent and proven track record, it wouldn't be a shocker if the Japanese superstar, who excels as both a pitcher and a hitter, adds this coveted award to his collection as early as 2026. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed this sentiment, stating, "I think it’s fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation." He emphasized the team's priority: Ohtani's health. "We just want him to be healthy, make starts, and all the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves. But, man, this guy is such a disciplined worker and expects the most from himself."
Just 105 days after the Dodgers achieved a historic feat by becoming MLB's first back-to-back champions in a quarter-century, Ohtani, alongside fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the rest of the team's pitching and catching staff, kicked off their spring training at Camelback Ranch. This marks a significant moment as Ohtani is gearing up to be a full-time, two-way player once again, a role he last fully embraced in 2023. An elbow injury unfortunately sidelined him from pitching for the entire 2024 season. While he made a return to the mound midway through last year, contributing 3-0 with a 4.43 ERA in the postseason to help the Dodgers secure their second consecutive World Series title, this upcoming season promises a more robust return.
Roberts highlighted that an uninterrupted offseason, dedicated to rest, recovery, and building strength, should make Ohtani an even more formidable force on the pitcher's mound this year. "He just looks strong, but not too much mass," Roberts observed. "Watching him throw, watching him run, his body is moving well. I think he's in a sweet spot."
Ohtani, now 31 years old, seemed completely at ease, enjoying breakfast and sharing laughs with his teammates before his bullpen session. He's entering his third season with the Dodgers, the franchise that has undeniably played a role in his ascent to becoming one of baseball's most electrifying phenomena in decades. "I was finally able to have a normal offseason," Ohtani shared. "Although the offseason was pretty short, I thought it was a good thing."
He mentioned arriving at Camelback Ranch at the start of the month and that Friday's bullpen session, which he described as successful, was his third of the spring. The next step is live batting practice next week, before he heads to Tokyo to join Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. However, he will not be pitching for Japan in the WBC, focusing solely on his hitting.
This decision to keep Ohtani off the mound in the WBC was a collective one, with his long-term health as the primary concern. "As much as people think that he’s not human, he’s still a human being who has had two major surgeries," Roberts explained. "He’s got a long career ahead of him."
The timing and potential travel demands of the WBC, which could see Team Japan playing across two continents from March 6-17, present a challenge for Ohtani's preparation for the Dodgers' opening day game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26. Neither Roberts nor Ohtani were certain about his pitching schedule while in Japan. Roberts acknowledged the delicate balance, stating, "It's delicate. We'll know more in the next couple weeks and see where the progression is at. But for us, there's not going to be any timeline or endline or finish line where he has to be ready."
But here's where it gets controversial... The Dodgers are entering the season as heavy favorites to win the World Series once again. Their aggressive spending in the free agent market, including the acquisition of four-time All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker on a $240 million, four-year deal, has only widened the gap between baseball's top-tier teams and the rest. They also secured star reliever Edwin Díaz on a $69 million, three-year deal. Is this level of spending sustainable for the league, or does it create an unfair playing field?
Díaz also participated in a bullpen session on Friday, coming off a season with the New York Mets where he posted a 1.63 ERA and 28 saves. "Guys are anxious," Roberts said. "We've got a long camp, longer than we've had in recent years. We're trying to get guys to start slow and be intentional and methodical. That's kind of the message."
What do you think about Ohtani's pursuit of the Cy Young Award? Do you believe he'll achieve it? And what are your thoughts on the Dodgers' massive spending spree? Let us know in the comments below!
