Shohei Ohtani is back and ready to dazzle on both sides of the game for the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a full recovery from Tommy John surgery, he's set to resume his role as a two-way player, a feat not seen since his early days in MLB.
Ohtani's list of accomplishments is already legendary. He's the first player to join the 50/50 club, has snagged four MVP Awards, four Silver Sluggers, and two World Series rings. Yet, the Cy Young Award remains just out of reach.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw both believe this could be the year Ohtani adds that elusive Cy Young to his trophy case. During NBC’s Opening Day broadcast, Kershaw praised Ohtani’s relentless drive.
“To be in the conversation as the best hitter and pitcher in the world takes an incredible amount of drive,” Kershaw noted. “I’m excited to see a full year of him on the mound and at the plate.
A Cy Young, MVP, and World Series in one year? It’s a real possibility.”
Kershaw, clearly in awe of Ohtani’s talent, emphasized the uniqueness of his contributions. “As a teammate, you might take it for granted, but when you step back, you realize we may never see this again at such a high level.”
If Ohtani maintains his elite performance this season, he could join the exclusive club of players like Sandy Koufax and Willie Hernández, who have won a Cy Young, MVP, and World Series in the same year. He would also make history as the first Japanese-born player to win a Cy Young.
Despite the allure of such accolades, Ohtani is focused on staying healthy. “If winning a Cy Young is the end result, that’s great,” Ohtani shared during Spring Training. “But my main focus is being healthy and available to pitch throughout the season.”
With his eyes set on both personal and team success, Ohtani is poised to continue redefining what’s possible in baseball.