Ohtani's Arm: Career-Threatening Injury?! Fans Stunned!

After two truly remarkable, record-setting seasons to kick off his massive $700 million contract with the Dodgers, you have to wonder: what mountains are left for Shohei Ohtani to climb? He's already shattered expectations, redefined what's possible on a baseball field, and captivated fans worldwide. But according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani has his sights set on another monumental achievement.

Ohtani's Arm: Career-Threatening Injury?! Fans Stu...

"I think it's fair to say he expects to be in the Cy Young conversation," Roberts recently stated. And honestly, who could doubt him? The Cy Young Award, MLB's top honor for pitching, is the only major individual award that has eluded Ohtani during his already legendary eight-year career. While he insists that winning his first Cy Young in 2026 isn't his sole focus, the opportunity is definitely there as he prepares for his first full season on the mound since undergoing elbow surgery in September 2023.

Ohtani himself downplayed the individual accolade, at least publicly. "If, at the end, the result is getting a Cy Young, that's great," Ohtani said through his interpreter after a recent bullpen session. "Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season, so if that's the end result, that's a good sign for me. What I'm more focused on is just being healthy the whole year."

He's come close before, most notably in 2022. That year, pitching for the Angels, Ohtani posted a stellar 15-9 record with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts across 166 innings and 28 starts. That performance earned him a fourth-place finish in American League Cy Young voting. It's worth noting, though, that 2022 was the only time in his MLB career that he has exceeded 23 starts or 132 innings pitched. This is largely due to the two major elbow reconstructions he's endured since his rookie year.

Last year, Ohtani still managed to win the National League MVP in his first year as a Dodger, despite only serving as a designated hitter. Following the season, he underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. He finally made his first start on the mound for the Dodgers in June 2025 — a full 22 months after his last major league pitching appearance with the Angels. The Dodgers understandably took a cautious approach, carefully building him up. We saw short outings initially, gradually increasing his workload until he reached a five-inning stint by the end of August. Ultimately, he threw just 47 innings over 14 regular-season starts, but his 2.87 ERA and a career-high 33.2% strikeout rate hinted at the potential we all know he possesses.

Then came the playoffs. Ohtani delivered an all-around performance for the ages in Game 4 of the NLCS, hitting three home runs and striking out 10 in six scoreless innings. He propelled the Dodgers to the World Series. While his Fall Classic outings weren't quite as dominant (seven runs allowed in 8.1 innings), it was clear he was feeling the effects of a long, demanding season as a two-way player. It’s a challenge, but knowing Ohtani, he'll be back, stronger and more determined than ever. And yes, a Cy Young trophy might just be the next piece of hardware he adds to his already overflowing collection.