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Shohei Ohtani has been one of the best players in Major League Baseball since his debut in March 2018, but the one thing he hasn't won since coming over from Japan is the Cy Young Award.
Ohtani has everything else: a two-time World Series winner, a five-time All-Star, a four-time MVP, and the American League Rookie of the Year. The Cy Young has evaded the Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star.
Fully healthy after having the second Tommy John surgery of his career in 2024, 2026 has proven to be the season that Ohtani is determined to win the Cy Young Award. However, a few obstacles stand in his way.
Shohei Ohtani finishes fourth in the latest polling for the National League Cy Young Award voting
According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan's latest poll of who will win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski received 29 first-place votes and 153 total vote points. Ohtani finished fourth with no first-place votes and
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Despite Ohtani posting a 1.47 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 73.2 innings (12 starts), Ohtani has three fewer starts than Misiorowski (15) and four fewer starts than Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez, who finished second in the voting. Even with his gaudy numbers, having fewer starts will affect Ohtani's chances of winning the award.
"It’s going to be tough for Ohtani to keep pace with the other aces in this loaded group of NL contenders while he’s also shouldering such a heavy workload as the Dodgers’ starting DH," wrote Harrigan. "But we’ve learned to never say never when it comes to the two-way superstar. He’s having the best pitching season of his career, with a 1.47 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 73 2/3 innings spanning 12 starts."
Even though Ohtani may not win his first Cy Young Award of his career, he is in line to win his fifth MVP award.
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