Phoenix –– Electricity

That’s the word that popped into Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing’s head when asked how Shohei Ohtani’s first live pitching session of the spring went from his perspective behind the plate.

“He was nailing every pitch and getting the swings and misses he wanted. He looked really good today,” Rushing remarked.

Ohtani has been the main topic around Dodger camp as spring training kicks off.

Since joining the Dodgers three years ago, the two-way superstar has enjoyed a completely healthy offseason, bouncing back from Tommy John surgery in late 2023 and labrum repair in 2024.

This season, Ohtani is set to play both as a hitter and pitcher full-time for the first time, aiming not just for his fifth MVP award but also the Cy Young Award—something no Japanese player has achieved.

“He seems to be on a mission pitching-wise,” noted President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. “When Shohei’s on a mission, good things follow.”

There’s strong confidence this year that Ohtani can regain his status as one of baseball’s top pitchers. He had a solid 2.84 ERA during his last three seasons with the Angels and, after returning from surgery, posted a 2.87 ERA in 14 games with the Dodgers last season.

However, questions loom regarding how aggressively the Dodgers will deploy him in 2026. They need to find a careful balance between his roles on the mound and at the plate.

“Last year, we were cautious with him coming back from surgery,” Friedman stated. “Not so much this year, but we still need to be careful.”

This week, the complexity of that balance became apparent.

Manager Dave Roberts described Ohtani’s first outing against batters as encouraging, noting that he threw 18 pitches in a single inning, hitting 98 mph on his fastball.

“He’s certainly ahead of where he was pitching-wise last year,” Roberts added.

Yet, Ohtani’s return to full-time pitching brings its own set of challenges. The Dodgers are keen on ensuring he stays healthy for the playoffs and in the long term after multiple surgeries.

“We aim to play through October, and we see Shohei as a crucial part of that,” Friedman explained. “He wants to pitch for years to come, and so do we, so we’ve got to be judicious.”

Right now, a pressing issue is whether Ohtani will pitch on Opening Day. While he won’t participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic for Japan, his absence might hinder his training as he takes on the role of designated hitter.

Roberts said it’s “very unlikely” that Ohtani will pitch in a Cactus League game before heading off for international competition. This means his first official mound appearance might not happen until late in camp.

Still, Friedman is optimistic that Ohtani will be ready for the start of the regular season, though he isn’t making any guarantees regarding the Cy Young race.

But he acknowledged the necessity of adapting Ohtani’s pitching schedule as the season progresses and, honestly, it’s hard to say if he’ll make enough starts to be in contention for such a prestigious award.

“The load he carries is significant and unique compared to other players,” Friedman observed. “It’s really going to be about how he feels, how he recovers, and managing his workload. Eventually, we’ll need to ramp up our approach.”

What the Dodgers feel confident about at this moment is the quality of Ohtani’s pitching. After Tuesday’s session, Rushing praised his improved mechanics, noting they seem “cleaner” than last year, particularly with his sinkers, sliders, and splitters.

“He’s definitely coming off the mound better than before,” Rushing said. “He seems rejuvenated.”

When asked about Ohtani’s pitching expectations this year, Rushing described his teammate as “boundless,” impressed by how Ohtani pulls off whatever is asked of him.

“He’s the best and aims to be even better,” Rushing added. “He sets a high standard for the team, and the way he works speaks volumes.”

Only time will show how this will all unfold in the 2026 season.