The Los Angeles Dodgers are fresh off back-to-back World Series championships, but they aren’t content just yet. After another offseason full of explosive moves, the Dodgers are set to return to action as the heavy favorite to win another title in 2026, and it’s not too hard to see why that’s the case.
Simply put, Los Angeles is loaded, as it features a deep roster that is spearheaded by the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani. After returning to the mound last season, Ohtani is hoping to make it through a full year of both pitching and hitting for the Dodgers. And if he can accomplish that, manager Dave Roberts believes that he will have his sights set on another major accolade.
Dave Roberts Sets Cy Young Award Goal for Shohei Ohtani
Ever since coming over to the majors from Japan, Ohtani has transformed the game of baseball with his ability to star both as a hitter and a pitcher. Ohtani’s pitching career was put on hold by Tommy John surgery, but he managed to make his return to the mound in 2025 after not having pitched at all since 2023.
Unsurprisingly, Ohtani won an MVP Award for the third-straight year in 2025. At the plate, he wasn’t as good as he was during his historic 2024 campaign, but his numbers are still mind-boggling (.282 BA, 55 HR, 102 RBI, 20 SB, 1.014 OPS). Perhaps more important, though, was his return to the mound, where he posted a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 14 abbreviated starts.
Entering the 2026 campaign, the training wheels are coming off for Ohtani when it comes to his work as a pitcher, as he will make his return to the front of the Dodgers’ starting rotation. And assuming he can stay healthy, Roberts is expecting him to be competing for the National League Cy Young Award by the end of the year.
“I think it’s fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation,’’ Roberts said of Ohtani, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “But we just want him to be healthy, make starts, and all of the numbers and statistics will take care of themselves. But man, this guy is such a disciplined worker and expects the most from himself … Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those.’’
Shohei Ohtani Could Make Even More History in 2026
GettyLos Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani
For all of Ohtani’s accomplishments, one award he has not won is a Cy Young Award. While Ohtani has been remarkably durable as a hitter, he hasn’t had the same luck on the mound. That could change in 2026, and given what we have seen from Ohtani when he is operating at his best as a pitcher, he is more than capable of taking home this award.
This is just another intriguing storyline to keep tabs on for a Dodgers team that seems intent on rolling over the competition once again this upcoming season. Just when you think they can’t get better, they welcome one of the most dominant pitchers in the game back to their starting rotation, which was already loaded beforehand. That’s just how things are going for L.A., and Ohtani’s pursuit of another major accolade will be worth keeping tabs on throughout the year.
Dodgers’ HC Dave Roberts Sets Major Goal for Shohei Ohtani in 2026