Shohei Ohtani BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers two-way phenom, kicked off spring training with a bang this week, signaling his full return to the mound and sparking buzz about a Cy Young chase in 2026. MLB.com reports that on Friday, February 13, Ohtani spoke after his third intense bullpen session at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, revealing he entered camp early in February for the first rehab-free offseason since his second elbow surgery post-2023. Fully recovered from that and a shoulder labrum fix, the four-time unanimous MVP and back-to-back World Series champ munched breakfast with teammates, laughed in the clubhouse, and threw with precision, eyeing live batting practice next week before jetting to the World Baseball Classic.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts lit up the narrative, telling MLB.com and thescore.com its fair to say Ohtani expects Cy Young contention, his lone missing trophy after finishing fourth in 2022 with a stellar 15-9 record, 2.33 ERA over 166 innings. Ohtani echoed that through interpreter Will Ireton to LA Times, saying a Cy Young would mean pitching a full healthy season—his top priority amid stiff NL competition from Paul Skenes and teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Hell skip pitching for Samurai Japan in the WBC to safeguard his arm, a team call per Roberts, who marveled at Ohtanis disciplined build-up and strong physique despite the short offseason and March 6-17 tournament crunch before Opening Day March 26 versus Arizona.

The Japan Times and ABS-CBN Sports splashed headlines like Healthy Ohtani has Cy Young Award in sights, while MLB video reels captured him chatting 2025 two-way playoff grind—3-0, 4.43 ERA postseason—and WBC prep. On February 11, MLB.com footage showed him firing outfield throws at camp. No fresh business deals or social flares popped, though his unicorn status keeps fueling MLB's Japan push, per Sports Business Journal. Roberts gushed Ohtanis self-expectations dwarf his own, positioning this third Dodger year as potentially historic—no speculation, just the superstars methodical march back to dominance.

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