Shohei Ohtani's 2026: The Year He Could Win Both the MVP and the Cy Young

Shohei Ohtani has spent his entire MLB career bending the sport to his will, doing things that no one else can do — and that many believed no one should even attempt. The 2026 season could be the year he reaches the peak of that impossibility.

With the Dodgers chasing a three-peat and Ohtani firmly established as both their ace and their most dangerous hitter, the dual-threat superstar is positioned to chase something that has never been done: winning both the AL/NL MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same season.

The case isn't hypothetical. Ohtani's stuff on the mound remains elite — his fastball velocity, spin rates, and secondary pitch development have all trended upward as he's settled into his role with Los Angeles. At the plate, he continues to produce at a level that would make him a starting-caliber player even if he never threw another pitch.

What makes 2026 different is the context. The Dodgers' championship pedigree gives Ohtani a platform that maximizes his visibility. Every start on the mound and every at-bat carries the weight of a team trying to do something historic. His individual brilliance is inseparable from the team's collective ambition.

Skeptics will point to the workload challenge. Pitching and hitting at an elite level across a full season is physically demanding in a way that no other athlete in professional sports experiences. Managing his body will be critical, and the Dodgers have shown a willingness to be strategic about his usage.

But if Ohtani stays healthy, the numbers could be staggering. And in a year where baseball is already generating mainstream buzz thanks to rule changes and compelling storylines, an Ohtani MVP-Cy Young sweep would be the kind of singular achievement that transcends the sport.

But if Ohtani stays healthy, the numbers could be staggering.