Shohei Ohtani Fantasy Stats

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Wednesday that designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will remain in the leadoff spot this season, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Why mess with success? The two-way superstar won his third straight MVP award and fourth in the last five seasons while also helping the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series titles. The 2026 season will be his first full year in L.A. as a true two-way player. Ohtani led the league last year in runs (146), slugging percentage (.622), OPS (1.014), and total bases (380) in 158 regular-season games while also hitting .282 with a career-high 55 home runs, 102 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. The 31-year-old was unable to live up to his 50-50 showing from 2024, but he still was a beast as a DH for fantasy managers. He will once again set the table for the best team in baseball and will be the top player off the board in all fantasy drafts as a hitter.

When asked if he expects two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation as a pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, "I do." Ohtani will not pitch at all for Team Japan during the upcoming World Baseball Classic, so he probably will be on a strict innings limit to begin the 2026 season, but he'll be in the Dodgers' rotation. The 31-year-old four-time MVP and five-time All-Star didn't make his season debut on the mound for L.A. until mid-June after recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in September of 2023, and he was slowly eased into the rotation. Ohtani made 14 starts (47 innings) during the regular season and had a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 62:9 K:BB. The leash was lengthened in the postseason, as he made four starts and threw 20 1/3 frames, striking out 28 and walking seven. Fantasy managers should anticipate a limited workload early on, but the expectation is that he'll be a full two-way player in 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani could pitch in a Cactus League game in spring training, and that it's "still in the air," according to Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation. Ohtani was recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had in September of 2023 and didn't make his season debut as a pitcher for the Dodgers until mid-June of 2025. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler ended up making 14 regular-season starts (47 innings) and posted a strong 2.87 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 62 strikeouts and only nine walks. His workload was expanded in the postseason, and although he might be babied this spring as a pitcher, he's fully expected to be part of the Opening Day starting rotation as a pitcher. Ohtani's fantasy ceiling is much higher as a hitter, but he's not too shabby as a pitcher either, and is RotoBaller's No. 32 starting pitcher in fantasy.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani has decided that he will not pitch in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani will still play for Team Japan, slotting into the lineup as their designated hitter. Roberts said that the Dodgers would have been open to Ohtani pitching, but that won't happen because he is only going to be covered by the league's third-party injury insurance as a hitter and not as a pitcher. Less strain on Ohtani's arm might work out better for Los Angeles in the long run, anyway. The 31-year-old didn't throw a pitch in 2024 due to elbow surgery, and he was limited to just 47 innings on the mound across 14 starts. He was as dominant as ever, pitching to a 1.90 FIP with 11.87 K/9, 1.72 BB/9, 0.57 HR/9, and a 41.4% ground ball rate. He said that he will be healthy to start the 2026 season, making him the consensus 1.01 pick in fantasy baseball draft rankings.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani said he will be ready to pitch from the start of the 2026 regular season, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. When asked about his workload for Team Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Ohtani said that it will be up to "how my body feels." No matter what, he will be fully ready to serve as the designated hitter in the WBC. The 31-year-old, who has been named MVP in three of the last four seasons, is a living legend for the Dodgers and has helped them win back-to-back World Series in his first two years with the team. Ohtani is much more valuable in fantasy baseball as a hitter, but his value is on the rise as a pitcher, especially since he is in line for a full season on the mound. He made only 14 starts for L.A. on the mound in 2025, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 62:9 K:BB in 47 innings. Ohtani could have his innings monitored early on in 2026, but if he stays healthy all year, he should be a high-end rotation arm for fantasy managers.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he plans to use two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani as a regular starting pitcher next year, although the Dodgers could be creative early in the season with their starting depth to maximize rest days, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. It won't necessarily be a traditional six-man rotation early on for the Dodgers, but Roki Sasaki, who stepped up in the back end of the bullpen during the postseason, will return as a starter in 2026. In addition to Sasaki, the Dodgers will have Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Right-hander Emmet Sheehan could make starts early on as well. Ohtani didn't debut on the mound in 2025 until June after having arm surgery. The four-time MVP (three straight) was brought along slowly and eventually finished with a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 62 K's, and only nine walks in 14 starts (47 innings). Ohtani might have a higher ceiling as a hitter, but his strikeout upside as a pitcher for his first full season as a two-way player in L.A. isn't too shabby either.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani announced on his Instagram account that he will represent Team Japan again in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Ohtani will suit up for his native Japan again after winning two straight World Series titles with the Dodgers and back-to-back National League MVP awards. Ohtani and Team Japan will be defending their WBC title in 2023, when they beat the USA in the final. The 31-year-old started that game as the designated hitter for Japan before closing out the contest on the mound, striking out then-teammate Mike Trout to end it. The 2026 WBC will begin on March 5 and will take place in four cities: Houston, Miami, Tokyo, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ohtani has been an All-Star in each of the last five seasons and has now won four MVP awards, two World Series rings, and was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2018.

The legend of Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani continues to grow, as he was named the National League Most Valuable Player on Thursday night for the second straight season. Ohtani has now won four MVP awards, with his first two coming with the Los Angeles Angels. He joined Roger Maris (1960-61 Yankees) as the only players to win the MVP in each of their first two seasons with a team and Joe Morgan (1975-76 Reds) as the only players to win both an MVP and the World Series in back-to-back seasons. The 30-year-old hit .282/.392/.622 with a career-high 55 homers to go with 25 doubles, a career-high nine triples, and 102 RBI while also scoring a league-best 146 runs. His 1.014 OPS and 179 OPS+ also led MLB. Ohtani didn't debut as a pitcher for L.A. until June 16, but he finished with a 2.87 ERA and 145 ERA+ (45% better than league average) while striking out 62 and walking only nine in 14 starts (47 innings). We may never see a player of Ohtani's caliber ever again.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani headlines the list of the National League Silver Slugger award winners for the 2025 season, according to David Adler of MLB.com. The other players in the NL to win the award on Thursday were New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (first selection), Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (second), San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (third), Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (first), Mets outfielder Juan Soto (sixth), Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (first), Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker (second), Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (first), and St. Louis Cardinals utility player Alec Burleson (first). The Dodgers were named the best slugging team in the NL after pacing the league in runs (825), homers (244), walks (580), OPS (.768), and total bases (2,415).

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will start on the mound in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday at the Rogers Centre against the hosting Toronto Blue Jays, the team announced. Ohtani will be pitching on short rest in the winner-take-all game. The Japanese superstar started the Game 4 loss in Los Angeles, going six innings and giving up four earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out six. In Ohtani's first three career postseason starts this year as a starting pitcher, he's allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits (one homer) while walking five and fanning 25 in 18 innings pitched. He's gone exactly six innings in each of his three starts versus the Phillies, Brewers, and Blue Jays, although he's likely to come short of that on Saturday on Saturday as the Dodgers look to piece things together as they go for back-to-back World Series championships.