What if one player could chase two of baseball’s biggest awards in the same season?
For Shohei Ohtani, experts believe that impossible scenario might actually be realistic in 2026.
Shohei Ohtani Receives Jaw-Dropping 2026 Prediction as Dodgers Chase Historic Three-Peat
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering the 2026 MLB season with history within reach, and once again, the center of the baseball universe is Shohei Ohtani.
After capturing back-to-back World Series titles, the Dodgers are now chasing something no team has accomplished in over two decades — a three-peat championship run. The last team to achieve that feat was the legendary New York Yankees dynasty from 1998 to 2000.
On paper, Los Angeles looks more than capable.
The roster reads like an All-Star lineup: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and newly added superstar Kyle Tucker, supported by one of the deepest pitching staffs in the league.
But even among that galaxy of talent, Ohtani remains the gravitational force.
And now, one bold prediction has the baseball world buzzing.
A Prediction That Sounds Almost Impossible
Ahead of the 2026 season, ESPN insider Alden Gonzalez delivered a forecast that perfectly captures just how unique Ohtani’s talent truly is.
According to Gonzalez, Ohtani could realistically finish the season as a top-five contender for both the National League Cy Young Award and the MVP Award.
In modern baseball, those two honors rarely overlap — pitchers compete for the Cy Young, hitters for MVP.
Ohtani, however, has never followed normal rules.
Gonzalez’s projection paints a staggering picture of what Ohtani’s season could look like:
At the plate:
- .980 OPS
- 45 home runs
- 20 stolen bases
On the mound:
- 2.65 ERA
- 160 innings pitched
- 213 strikeouts
If those numbers materialize, Gonzalez predicts Ohtani would finish third in Cy Young voting and fifth in the MVP race — an extraordinary dual achievement in a single season.
The Evolution of a Baseball Phenomenon
Ohtani’s ability to dominate both as a pitcher and a hitter has already transformed how the sport evaluates greatness.
For decades, baseball separated roles strictly.
Pitchers pitched.
Hitters hit.
Ohtani shattered that structure.
Since arriving in Major League Baseball, the Japanese superstar has repeatedly produced seasons that feel almost fictional — launching tape-measure home runs while also striking out elite hitters with triple-digit fastballs.
By age 31, he has already built a résumé that some analysts believe places him on the path toward one of the greatest careers in baseball history.
A Dominant 2025 Season
The prediction for 2026 comes after another spectacular year from Ohtani in 2025.
Across 158 games, he delivered an offensive explosion:
- 55 home runs
- 102 RBIs
- 20 stolen bases
- .282 / .392 / .622 slash line
On the mound, after returning from injury, he made 14 starts, producing:
- 2.87 ERA
- 1.04 WHIP
- 47 innings pitched
- 6.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio
Even while easing back into pitching duties, Ohtani remained one of the most impactful players in the league.
Another Projection Raises the Bar Even Higher
Stat projection system RotoWire has offered an even more aggressive prediction for Ohtani’s upcoming season.
Their forecast suggests the Dodgers superstar could produce:
Offense
- 50 home runs
- 105 RBIs
- 31 stolen bases
- .296 batting average
Pitching
- 9–4 record
- 3.28 ERA
- 161 strikeouts
- 1.02 WHIP
If those numbers hold, Ohtani would once again deliver a season that few players in baseball history could even imagine attempting.
The Key Factor: Health
Of course, everything depends on one crucial element.
Health.
Ohtani has battled injuries throughout his career, particularly while balancing the intense workload of being both a frontline pitcher and elite hitter.
If he stays healthy, however, the ceiling appears almost limitless.
The Centerpiece of a Championship Run
For the Dodgers, Ohtani’s impact extends far beyond individual awards.
Los Angeles has built its roster around the idea that he can be the centerpiece of a historic championship run.
With stars like Betts, Freeman, and Tucker surrounding him, the Dodgers possess one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.
And if Ohtani performs anywhere close to the projections analysts are predicting, the team’s quest for a third straight World Series title may become very real.
Because in modern baseball, there may be many superstars.
But there is only one Shohei Ohtani.
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