If it feels like new and surprising information about Shohei Ohtani emerges every few days, well, that’s pretty much the case.
Ohtani is just one of those extraordinary players who has managed to achieve nearly everything possible in Major League Baseball.
In 2024, he had what many are calling the best offensive season in baseball history, being the first player to hit more than 50 home runs while also stealing more than 50 bases. That’s right—54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. On top of that, he boasted a batting average of .310, an on-base percentage of .390, and a slugging percentage of .646. FanGraphs rated him at a production level of 79, well above the average player.
Fast forward to 2025, and he hit another 55 home runs, breaking his own career record. He returned to the mound for the first time since 2023 and achieved a 2.87 ERA along with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings, making significant contributions to his team’s success.
What’s left for him to achieve? Maybe just the Cy Young Award. After another solid performance on Wednesday night, it seems he might be on track to add that to his list of achievements as well.
Sure, it’s early in the season. The Dodgers have only played 43 of their 162 games, so over 73% of the season is still ahead of them. But if the season were to end today, it would be tough to dispute Ohtani as the National League’s Cy Young Award winner. Should that happen, it would just be another addition to the incredible list of milestones in the career of one of baseball’s all-time greats.
If he does win, he would be the first player in history to claim MVP awards as both a hitter and a pitcher. While quite a few players have won both the Cy Young and MVP in the same season, no pitcher has ever won the MVP twice. There’s already buzz from his manager and teammates about this possibility.
“As I’ve mentioned before, he transforms into a different player when he’s on the mound,” said manager Dave Roberts after their 4-0 win against the Giants. “I think winning the Cy Young is something he really wants, and it’ll benefit the Dodgers moving into 2026. When he’s pitching, he’s in that focused zone.”
Santiago Espinal, who hit a lead-off home run for Los Angeles, remarked, “When he pitches, everyone expects Cy Young-level performance. When he hits, it’s MVP numbers people look for. Tonight, he showed exactly what Cy Young is about.”
That said, there’s still a long way to go. Several other pitchers in the National League are doing quite well as the 2026 season progresses. Last year’s Cy Young winner, Paul Skeens, has maintained a solid ERA, while Christopher Sanchez and Jacob Misiorowski have also turned heads with impressive performances.
Yet, it serves as a reminder: what Ohtani is achieving nightly is almost unprecedented. He ranks as one of the top pitchers while also being among the leading hitters in the sport simultaneously. That’s not just good; it’s extraordinary, and this season could very well culminate in even more historic moments for him.
