Shohei Ohtani Isn’t Ditching His Interpreter Anytime Soon - And He’s Got Bigger Things on His Mind in 2026
Shohei Ohtani may have delivered his National League MVP acceptance speech in English earlier this year, but don’t expect him to part ways with his interpreter, Will Ireton, anytime soon.
During spring training in Glendale, Arizona, Ohtani was asked whether he still needed Ireton by his side. His answer? Classic Ohtani - part serious, part playful, and all business underneath.
“I still need him because there might be some bullies out there that might give me some weird questions that I’m sure he can handle,” Ohtani said, flashing a bit of personality that’s becoming more familiar to fans as his comfort with the English language grows. According to reporters on the scene, he even shot a side-eye after the question - his first of the spring.
But language barriers aside, Ohtani’s focus is locked in on what could be a historic 2026 campaign.
The Three-Peat Is in Sight - and So Is the Cy Young
Ohtani enters this season with two World Series rings in his back pocket and a chance to help the Dodgers do something no team has pulled off in nearly three decades: a three-peat. For a player who’s already done just about everything - MVPs, All-Star nods, jaw-dropping stat lines - this next goal is as ambitious as it gets.
And if you think he’s coasting after back-to-back titles, think again.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has made it clear he expects Ohtani to be in the Cy Young conversation this year. That’s a bold statement, but not an unrealistic one.
Ohtani last received Cy Young votes in 2022, back when he was still with the Angels. Since then, he’s only sharpened his game - even if last year’s World Series didn’t exactly showcase his best stuff on the mound.
Guerrero Jr. Throws Some Shade - Ohtani Answers on the Field
Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. didn’t mince words when asked about facing Ohtani in the World Series, saying the two-way phenom “wasn’t that tough to hit.” And to be fair, Guerrero did take Ohtani deep in one of those outings. But the scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story.
Ohtani also struck Guerrero out twice in that series, and while his World Series pitching numbers weren’t dominant, his overall postseason performance was nothing short of legendary.
Earlier in the playoffs, Ohtani made history by doing something no player has ever done in MLB postseason play: hitting three home runs and striking out 10 batters in the same game. That’s not just a baseball milestone - that’s the kind of feat that transcends sports. Some even called it the greatest single-game performance in any sport, ever.
The Bigger Picture
Ohtani’s story continues to evolve, and the 2026 season is shaping up to be another defining chapter. Whether he’s speaking English or Japanese, whether he’s launching baseballs into orbit or carving up hitters with his splitter, one thing’s clear: Ohtani isn’t slowing down.
And as for Will Ireton? His job’s safe - for now.