Shohei Ohtani -- Performance Analysis

Shohei Ohtani has redefined two-way excellence in Major League Baseball through August 22, 2024. Offensively, he leads the majors with 40 home runs while maintaining a 1.003 OPS and a .270 batting average—nearly 30 points above league average. As a pitcher, he maintains a 2.79 ERA across 18 starts with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings, ranking eighth in the majors. He has also gone 19-for-27 on stolen bases and contributed defensively in the outfield.

Ohtani's achievement is historically unique. He is the first player since Babe Ruth in 1919 to lead MLB in home runs while making multiple pitching starts in a season, and the only player in MLB history to hit 30+ home runs and strike out 50+ batters in a single season—something Ruth never accomplished. Scouts assess his hit tool at 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale, leading all hitters with a 13.4% barrel rate per plate appearance and ranking third with a 55.8% hard-hit rate.

Scouts attribute much of his improvement to offseason work at Driveline, which transformed his mechanics and swing path. One veteran scout noted that Ohtani is now pulling the ball in the air with power in ways previously impossible, including pulling high fastballs—a rare ability even among elite left-handed hitters. He has also improved consistency against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers, posting a .945 OPS against lefties and 1.016 OPS against righties while reducing his chase rate to career lows and increasing his walk rate.

Shohei Ohtani has been ranked as the top starting pitcher in MLB by MLB.com's voting panel, climbing six spots after Tarik Skubal's injury placement. Through six starts in the 2026 season, Ohtani has posted a league-leading 0.97 ERA while maintaining remarkable consistency—he has never allowed more than two earned runs or five hits in any outing. Opponents are batting just .160 with a .489 OPS against him, and he maintains a respectable 29% strikeout rate, placing him in the top 13% of MLB pitchers.

Ohtani's 2026 season represents his best pitching performance to date, surpassing his previous career ERA high of 2.33 from 2022, when he finished fourth in Cy Young voting. He has now lasted at least six innings in each of his six starts and earned his first Pitcher of the Month award for April. Despite these exceptional pitching metrics, the Dodgers are only 2-4 in his outings, scoring just five runs in the losses.

Ohtani is now firmly in contention for the Cy Young Award. According to FanGraphs' Cy Young points projection, he currently ranks third with 20.7 points, just behind Chris Sale (21.9) and Bryce Elder (21.0). The award would represent one of the few major honors still eluding the two-way superstar's resume.

Shohei Ohtani has rejected the narrative that his pitching success has negatively impacted his hitting performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. While acknowledging that his offensive slump has persisted longer than anticipated, Ohtani disputes any causal link to his increased pitching responsibilities. Manager Dave Roberts previously suggested the connection was likely, but Ohtani emphasized the importance of improving the quality of balls in play rather than attributing struggles to workload distribution.

The Dodgers have proactively managed Ohtani's workload by limiting him to single-role appearances in three instances this season, including his last two starts. This represents a significant increase from his previous usage patterns—in 2024, Ohtani has pitched at least 6 innings with 87+ pitches in all six starts, whereas last season he achieved those thresholds in only 5 of 18 starts and 4 of 18 starts respectively. Ohtani expressed understanding of the organization's cautious approach, acknowledging that if he were hitting well, the team would likely have him perform both roles simultaneously.

The primary motivation for limiting his dual responsibilities is preserving his arm health given the increased pitching load this season. Notably, Ohtani showed signs of improvement in his next game, recording 2-for-4 performance with a double, RBI, and walk in a Dodgers victory on Wednesday. Teammate Miguel Rojas deflected blame from Ohtani, attributing recent offensive struggles to himself and the broader lineup.

Shohei Ohtani's offensive performance has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks as the Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Atlanta Braves 7-2 on May 10, 2026, dropping the series. Going 0-for-4 in this game, Ohtani has compiled only 4 hits in his last 33 at-bats and has not homered in 102 plate appearances. His last home run came on April 26 against the Chicago Cubs. He experienced a particularly difficult stretch from April 30 to May 4, going 0-for-17 with six walks, representing his longest hitting drought since 2022. Currently tied for 6th place with 6 home runs, Ohtani trails home run leaders Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, who are both tied at 16.

Despite the hitting struggles, Ohtani's pitching remains elite with a 0.97 ERA and a 2-2 record. Analytics suggest that slumps are typically temporary and that Ohtani should break out soon. However, the physical demands of his two-way role as both designated hitter and starting pitcher appear to be taking a toll. With two previous Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow already in his medical history, the Dodgers have strategically given him rest days to manage his workload and prevent further injury.

Shohei Ohtani has accepted the Los Angeles Dodgers' decision to use him exclusively as a pitcher, understanding the team's rationale during his current offensive struggles. Since April 15, Ohtani has slashed .226/.360/.355 with a .715 OPS and just one home run, extending to 0-for-17 in recent at-bats. Despite accepting the role, manager Dave Roberts clarified the decision was not directly tied to offensive results but rather based on body language and player observation. The Dodgers' offensive struggles extend beyond Ohtani, as the team has scored five or more runs in only two of their last three series.

Ohtani's pitching performance has been exceptional this season, leading all of MLB with a 0.97 ERA through 37 innings pitched, allowing just 4 earned runs with 42 strikeouts. In his recent pitching-only starts spanning 19 innings, he has allowed 5 runs with 27 strikeouts. These metrics have established him as a Cy Young contender, currently ranking third in FanGraphs' NL projections behind Chris Sale and Bryce Elder. With four months remaining in the season, Ohtani has substantial opportunity to regain offensive form while maintaining his elite pitching production.