Shohei Ohtani is entering the 2026 season with a clear mission: win the National League Cy Young Award. The two-way superstar, fresh off a $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has shifted his focus to pitching after dominating as a hitter last season. His teammates and coaches have noticed a new intensity in his approach.

Ohtani's dedication was evident during his recovery from elbow surgery, when he would engage in detailed pitching discussions between innings while preparing to hit. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior was surprised by Ohtani's commitment to refining his craft, noting that the Japanese star wanted to dissect every pitch and adjust his strategy in real-time. This level of engagement mirrors his approach at the plate, where he became the first designated hitter to join the 50/50 club.

With a talented rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, Ohtani has the perfect environment to elevate his pitching. His electric stuff, which reached 98 mph in spring training, has teammates predicting big things. As Dodgers catcher Will Smith stated, Ohtani can win a Cy Young this year, and the baseball world will be watching to see if he adds pitching's top honor to his four MVP awards.