As Shohei Ohtani prepares for the ninth year of his Major League Baseball career and his third season with the Dodgers, he sets his sights on achieving a completely healthy season, an essential component for his pursuit of a Cy Young Award. Ohtani attended the Dodgers’ camp in Glendale, Arizona, where he emphasized health as his priority before aiming for pitching excellence throughout the year.
With an impressive résumé including four MVP trophies—split evenly between the American and National Leagues—baseball history marks such as the first-ever 50/50 season, and two World Series championships, Ohtani views this coming season as pivotal for his pitching career.
Ohtani’s Recovery and Preparation Following Recent Surgeries
After overcoming significant challenges, including Tommy John surgery in September 2023 and shoulder surgery at the conclusion of the 2024 World Series, Ohtani described the offseason as
“finally able to have a normal offseason—although the offseason was pretty short.”
Despite the brief rest period, which was shortened due to another deep postseason and championship run, Ohtani said,
“I thought it was a good thing, actually, to have a shorter offseason,”
he said, speaking through his interpreter.
Ohtani has already begun intensive spring training at Camelback Ranch, recording his third bullpen session of the spring early in the workout schedule, aiming to escalate his readiness with live batting practices against hitters next week. His preparation aligns with the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he and teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto are expected to participate, although Ohtani remains uncertain about the amount of he will pitch during the international event.
Dodgers’ Strategy to Manage Pitching Workload
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the team will likely adopt a six-man starting rotation for the new season, as they have done previously in 2025. This approach is designed to manage pitcher fatigue and protect arms, particularly for their trio of Japanese starters—Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki—who generally maintained a limited once-per-week pitching schedule last year.
“I think early, it’s hard to say it won’t be (a six-man starting rotation),”
Roberts commented.
“How beholden we are to that, for how long, I don’t know. But I think it’s easy to say that because the early part of the season we’re very mindful of giving guys rest to keep guys built up. I think that lends itself to that. It’s hard to say right now who those participants are. It really is. But I do think that with the pitching, the starting pitching depth we have, it makes sense as I sit here right now. How that looks, end of April? I’m not sure yet.”
This rotation would especially benefit Ohtani, reducing the number of innings he needs to pitch and helping him maintain health after a limited workload last season. His pitching time was restricted to 47 innings during the regular 2025 season, plus 20 1/3 innings in the postseason as he recovered from surgery.
Expectations for Ohtani’s Performance and Health
Despite cautious management of Ohtani’s pitching workload, Dodgers’ leadership holds optimistic views about his potential now that he has healed fully. Roberts praised Ohtani’s discipline and confidence in aiming for top pitching honors this season, including the Cy Young Award:
“I think the regular offseason ramp-up, there’s certainly a lot more in there,”
Roberts said.
“Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those. I think it’s fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation. But we just want him to be healthy and make starts. All the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves. But man, this guy is such a disciplined worker and expects the most from himself.”
The emphasis remains firmly on Ohtani’s health and ability to consistently take the mound. Achieving a Cy Young Award would signal not only his pitching prowess but also his ability to endure a full season’s workload, something Ohtani highlighted as being his core focus.
Implications for Ohtani’s Career and the Dodgers’ Season
Shohei Ohtani’s commitment to regaining full health and his ambition for pitching accolades underscores the significance of this season for his career trajectory. If he can sustain his physical condition through the lengthy grind of an MLB season, the Dodgers stand to benefit greatly from his dual-threat capabilities as both a dominant pitcher and hitter. The six-man rotation and cautious workload management will be critical in prolonging his effectiveness and preventing setbacks.
Looking ahead, Ohtani’s participation in the World Baseball Classic with Yoshinobu Yamamoto could provide additional competitive seasoning; however, his throwing regimen will be carefully monitored to maintain readiness for the regular season. The balance between recovery, competitive play, and rest will shape how he performs and whether he can meet his Cy Young aspirations.
