When Shohei Ohtani entered the 2026 season as the reigning National League MVP and World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, many believed he had nothing left to prove.

But the reality is quite the opposite.

Ohtani doesn’t just want to continue dominating MLB. He’s pursuing a challenge that even the greatest legends of modern baseball rarely achieve: winning the Cy Young Award as a full-time two-way player.

And according to one MLB analyst, the Japanese superstar is perfectly capable of doing it — but with one condition: the Dodgers must accept sacrificing some of his offensive power to protect his pitching arm.

That’s the debate currently rocking Los Angeles.

In recent weeks, the Dodgers have begun resting Ohtani in some games where he pitched. This decision has been highly controversial, as it means the team is voluntarily sacrificing their most dangerous bat in exchange for Ohtani’s best pitcher form.

But the problem is… it’s working wonders.

Early season statistics show Ohtani has an extremely low ERA and consistently delivers dominant performances on the mound. At one point, he went seven innings without a run and surpassed 100 pitches – indicating the Dodgers are increasingly confident in his ability to return after elbow surgery.

Some experts even suggest that if he maintains his current form, Ohtani could be more than just a Cy Young candidate – he could become the National League’s number one favorite.

However, the price is beginning to become apparent.

While his pitching has become increasingly formidable, Ohtani’s hitting numbers have shown signs of stagnation at various points in the season. This immediately raises a major question: is his return to a dual-role, all-around role eroding his offensive capabilities?

That’s why many analysts believe the Dodgers are facing their toughest choice of the season:

Do they want the “all-around monster” Shohei Ohtani… or a Cy Young version of Shohei Ohtani?

Because to acquire Cy Young, Ohtani would likely need an unprecedented workload management. This means fewer games, less base pressure, and more recovery days between pitching appearances.

For a typical player, that’s nothing special.

But this is Ohtani—a player who has built a legend by doing both jobs better than anyone else in modern history.

That’s what makes things so sensitive.

Many Dodgers fans are beginning to worry that prioritizing pitcher Ohtani might inadvertently cost them the most terrifying and well-rounded version of him. Some have even criticized the team for over-catering to the Japanese superstar’s schedule.

But from another perspective, the Dodgers understand very well how rare their asset is.

A healthy Ohtani on the mound isn’t just an ace. He’s a tactical nightmare capable of changing the entire postseason. And if they truly acquire Cy Young, Ohtani will enter historically significant territory that almost no one can match.

Remember, he’s had multiple MVPs, World Series rings, and some of the most iconic seasons in modern history. But Cy Young is still the missing piece in the trophy collection of this $700 million man.

The most frightening thing?

Ohtani doesn’t seem to have reached his peak performance yet.

Recent reports suggest the Dodgers are still extremely cautious about his elbow injury history. This means that if his body adapts better in the second half of the season, the current version of Ohtani could be even more formidable.

And that’s what’s truly terrifying for the rest of MLB.

Because if the Dodgers find the perfect balance between hitting and pitching, the National League could soon witness something unprecedented in the modern era: a player who is both an MVP-level hitter and a Cy Young-level pitcher in the same season.

No more hype.

No more marketing.

That’s a very real scenario for Shohei Ohtani in 2026.