Shohei Ohtani’s Ambitious Goals for the Season

PHOENIX — Shohei Ohtani has clear aspirations this season. He not only aims to secure a World Series title but also has his eyes set on winning the World Baseball Classic and, ideally, his first Cy Young Award.

During the Dodgers’ first workout of the spring, Ohtani shared his ambitions following a 27-pitch bullpen session. This openness was a bit unusual for the typically private two-way star, offering a glimpse into his thoughts and mindset.

At 31, Ohtani has already achieved considerable success, including four MVP awards, two World Series titles, and a WBC championship. Yet, he insists that he craves even more accomplishments.

“I think it’s over when I’m satisfied,” Ohtani mentioned in Japanese. He doesn’t feel satisfied yet and believes that quitting is only necessary when you’ve truly achieved your goals.

While the list of what he wants to accomplish is short, he emphasized the significance of achieving the same feats multiple times. “Winning once isn’t enough—repeating those victories is what elevates you as a great player,” he asserted, adding that two titles are better than one, and three are even better.

Of course, Ohtani has already shown he’s an elite talent, clinching his first MVP title as an Angel five years ago. Now at Camelback Ranch for nearly two weeks, he’s in the midst of spring training and has already pitched three bullpen sessions.

Previously, when manager Dave Roberts noted that Ohtani would focus on hitting instead of pitching during the WBC, it hinted at his interest in pursuing the Cy Young Award. Ohtani agreed, revealing that he thinks attaining that honor would be great.

He talked about the importance of pitching sustained innings, mentioning that being assigned to a rotation for a season is crucial. Ohtani is aware that staying healthy is key, especially since he’s undergone two major surgeries and could transition to a full-time designated hitter role if necessary.

Roberts acknowledged Ohtani’s resilience, remarking, “People overlook the fact he’s human and has been through a lot.” With eight more seasons on his contract, Ohtani’s journey is far from over. After his second Tommy John surgery in 2023, he returned to pitch 14 games last season with a respectable 2.84 ERA, including four postseason appearances.

Roberts expressed his admiration for Ohtani’s command, noting it was unexpectedly strong last season given his injury history. “He managed to control various pitches quite well, which is impressive,” he said.

Interestingly, Ohtani felt relieved by the decision not to participate in the WBC, believing it was in his best interest. He reflected on last year, saying, “If I had pitched all season, the timing would have been different.”

Now, he’s grateful for a normal offseason after two years marred by injuries and is focused on improving to reach his goals. He acknowledged the difficulties he faced pitching during the postseason.

“Playing DH a couple of years ago felt different than last year,” he observed. He plans to start pitching to batters next week, signaling his readiness to ramp up his activities.

As he looks forward after the WBC, Ohtani is determined to position himself for further accomplishments, and, well, perhaps more challenges ahead.