GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Coming off a season where he secured a second World Series ring and a fourth unanimous MVP Award, Shohei Ohtani was finally able to enjoy a rehab-free winter.
Ohtani had to recover from a second major surgery on his right elbow after the 2023 season, a process that lingered into the winter after '24, when he was also on the mend from a procedure to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Even without any rehab, this marked another consecutive abridged offseason for Ohtani and the back-to-back champion Dodgers -- and it's even shorter because Ohtani is once again representing Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic in March.
In reality, there's no such thing as normal for Ohtani, from his two-way duties to his larger-than-life persona on and off the field. He thrives in the abnormal, and as such, anticipation is high for what his third year in Dodger blue will bring.
"Regardless of my expectations for him, his are going to exceed those," manager Dave Roberts said during Friday's first spring workouts for pitchers and catchers at Camelback Ranch. "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."
In eight big league seasons, Ohtani has just about done it all. In addition to the MVP Awards and World Series, he has received almost every possible accolade for a Major League hitter. He isn't as decorated as a pitcher alone, with the Cy Young being the only major award that has eluded him thus far.
Ohtani has only received Cy Young votes in one year: 2022, his best two-way season to date. He went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts, striking out 219 starts against 44 walks in 166 innings. He was fourth in AL Cy Young balloting behind winner Justin Verlander, runner-up Dylan Cease and third-place finisher Alek Manoah.
The 2022 season marks the only time that Ohtani has thrown enough innings to qualify for the ERA title in his Major League career. He's had two major surgeries on his pitching elbow since coming to the big leagues, limiting his overall time on the mound. So while Ohtani did not say outright that he's going for a Cy Young Award this year, he wants to do enough to be in the picture when awards season rolls around.
"Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season," Ohtani said Friday through interpreter Will Ireton. "So if that's the end result, that's a good sign for me."
Ohtani faces stiff competition in the National League. Defending winner Paul Skenes of the Pirates is the clear favorite after a dominant and historic start to his career. Teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who finished third in Cy Young balloting behind Skenes and the Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez, is another contender.
For Ohtani to rise above the competition, he not only needs to dominate, but he would need to be used as a regular starter and spend the entire season in the Dodgers' rotation. That is the plan for the time being, although his impending departure for the World Baseball Classic complicates matters. Ohtani will only hit for Japan during the tournament.
“I’m not really sure how I’ll be able to practice in the WBC setting, so I’m going to try to ramp up as much as I can to the point where I’m throwing a live BP, which should be next week," said Ohtani, who has thrown three bullpen sessions this year. "That’s at least the goal, is to be able to ramp up to the point where I’m throwing live BPs.”
Roberts was unsure whether Ohtani would be able to pitch in a Cactus League game before leaving for the Classic. If Samurai Japan is able to defend its title, then Ohtani will be away from the team through at least March 17, after which there are only six exhibitions remaining -- three in Arizona and three in Southern California -- before Opening Day.
Ohtani is ultimately the only person who knows how to build up to his full two-way capabilities. Just as they had to rely on his knowledge of his process in order to complete his pitching rehab last year, the Dodgers will have to do the same this spring.
"I'm not too concerned about it," Roberts said. "Shohei's very well aware of what he needs to do."