Los Angeles Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior disclosed his expectations for Shohei Ohtani heading into a full season of pitching.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior disclosed his expectations for Shohei Ohtani as the two-way star heads into his first full season of pitching for the Dodgers.
After joining the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season, Ohtani spent the entirety of the year strictly as the designated hitter. He returned to the mound in 2025, but only worked his way up to full outings by the end of the season. Prior said he’s excited to see what Ohtani can do with a full year on the bump.
“Last year, it was obviously a very unique year,” Prior said on Dodgers Territory. “He was coming off Tommy John, and then he had the shoulder injury on the non-throwing arm. This year, a full version.”
How Did Shohei Ohtani Pitch in 2025?
The MVP made his first pitching appearance in nearly two years against the San Diego Padres on June 16, pitching single inning in his return. He struggled through the inning, allowing a run on two hits, but managed to get out of it.
His outings only got longer and more impressive, working his way up to six innings by the end of the year and cutting his ERA to 3.87.
He made four starts in the postseason for the Dodgers, with the best of the bunch coming against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS. Ohtani struck out 10 batters through six scoreless innings, and earned himself NLCS MVP largely due to his impressive performance in the final game of the series.
Can Ohtani Win His First Cy Young Award in 2026?
The two-way superstar has flirted with the Cy Young award in the past, placing fourth in the American League in 2022.
He had a 2.33 ERA through 28 appearances in his last full season on the mound.
If Ohtani can manage similar numbers to that season in 2026 he has a fighting chance, but his competition in the National League is stiff. Paul Skenes looked unstoppable in 2025, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto has taken a huge step up since his arrival in L.A.
When it comes down to it, though, the superstar is likely more focused on winning his third consecutive World Series ch
Category: General Sports
