📰 NEWS FLASH: Ohtani aiming to complete historic résumé with pitching’s biggest award ⚡ .NL

Shohei Ohtani has conquered nearly every challenge baseball could offer.
But one prestigious award still sits just out of reach — and now, the Dodgers superstar appears determined to claim it.

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Shohei Ohtani Sets Sights on Cy Young Award as Dodgers Teammates Sense a New Mission

Shohei Ohtani’s list of accomplishments already reads like a baseball fantasy.

Four MVP awards.
Two World Series championships.
Historic two-way dominance that has reshaped how the sport thinks about pitching and hitting.

But there is still one major individual honor missing from his extraordinary resume.

The Cy Young Award.

And according to people inside the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, Ohtani is now fully focused on capturing it.

A Different Energy This Season

Dodgers executives and players say they’ve noticed something different about Ohtani as he prepares for the 2026 season.

A sharper intensity.

A clear objective.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman believes Ohtani is approaching the year with a specific purpose.

“He seems like he’s on a mission, pitching-wise,” Friedman said.
“Whenever we’ve seen him on a mission, good things happen.”

Inside the clubhouse, teammates are seeing the same signs.

Backup catcher Dalton Rushing didn’t hesitate when describing Ohtani’s motivation.

“He wants a Cy Young,” Rushing said. “You can tell with the way he’s carrying himself.”

Outfielder Teoscar Hernández also expects a different version of Ohtani on the mound this year.

“I think we’re going to see a different Shohei pitching,” Hernández said.

Can the Best Hitter Also Be the Best Pitcher?

The question surrounding Ohtani has always been the same:

Can someone truly dominate both sides of the game at the highest level?

As a hitter, Ohtani has already cemented himself as one of baseball’s most feared players.

His 50 home run–50 stolen base season remains one of the most remarkable offensive achievements in MLB history.

But pitching recognition has been harder to secure — largely because his workload has been split between two roles.

Still, those closest to him believe that barrier may soon fall.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith is convinced the ceiling remains unlimited.

“There’s no ceiling with him,” Smith said. “He can go win a Cy Young. I have no doubt.”

Spring Training Velocity Turning Heads

Early signs from spring training have only fueled that confidence.

During simulated innings, Ohtani has reportedly reached 98 mph with his fastball.

Rushing described the performance simply.

“Electric.”

That kind of velocity — combined with his elite splitter and devastating breaking pitches — has long made Ohtani one of the most difficult pitchers to face when healthy.

A Strong Foundation on the Mound

Even with his two-way workload, Ohtani’s pitching numbers have consistently been elite.

In 2025, he started 14 games for the Dodgers and posted:

• 2.87 ERA
• 62 strikeouts
• 9 walks
• 1.043 WHIP

His control was especially impressive, showing the kind of command typically associated with Cy Young candidates.

Across his five seasons pitching for the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani recorded:

• 38–19 record
• 3.01 ERA
• 1.082 WHIP

Those numbers already place him among the most effective starters of his generation.

Waiting Until After the World Baseball Classic

Fans eager to see Ohtani dominate on the mound again may need to be patient.

His pitching workload will likely ramp up fully after the World Baseball Classic, when he rejoins the Dodgers rotation for the MLB season.

But if the early signs are any indication, something special could be coming.

Chasing the Final Trophy

For most players, Ohtani’s career achievements would already define a legendary legacy.

But for Ohtani himself, the pursuit never stops.

Winning a Cy Young Award would complete one of the most unique résumés in baseball history — proving that the sport’s greatest two-way player can also be its best pitcher.

And according to those inside the Dodgers clubhouse, that pursuit has already begun.

Because when Shohei Ohtani decides he wants something, baseball has learned one important lesson.

It’s usually only a matter of time.