Shohei Ohtani took the mound for the first time at Camelback Ranch this Wednesday, marking his first MLB Spring Training start since February 28, 2023. This outing represents the first step in what many see as a legitimate National League Cy Young campaign-a standard the Japanese superstar is determined to reach.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had limited time with Ohtani during Spring Training 2026, as he was away representing Japan in the World Baseball Classic. However, after Japan’s surprising elimination, he returned in time to make two preseason starts.
Ohtani pursues pitching excellence
Although manager Dave Roberts planned to limit Ohtani’s workload, the Dodgers pitcher delivered 4.1 innings against the San Francisco Giants, hitting 99.9 mph on his fastball and recording four strikeouts.
“I do see this as more of an extension of a live BP situation, so honestly it didn’t feel too bad,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, though he admitted he still has room for improvement as part of his MLB pitching return.
“I was pretty happy with the pitch count today. In terms of the next outing, I do want to be better at executing in two-strike counts,” he added. “I just didn’t finish off hitters as much as I wanted to.”
The goal within the Dodgers organization is for Ohtani to remain healthy and build up to five innings per start once the MLB regular season 2026 begins. The team has yet to confirm his first official outing of the year.
It is likely he will be available when the Dodgers face the Cleveland Guardians later this month, as part of a plan that includes extra rest between starts. In 2025, Ohtani consistently had at least five days of rest after each appearance.
One major advantage for Shohei Ohtani this season is that he will not require a full rehabilitation process like in 2025. In fact, this marks the first time the Dodgers can fully utilize him as a two-way player since his arrival, combining elite pitching and hitting in MLB.
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