Shohei Ohtani Continues To Change What Is Possible On A Baseball Field

BusinessSportsMoneyShohei Ohtani Continues To Change What Is Possible On A Baseball FieldByDan Freedman,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dan Freedman is lawyer and IBWAA member who writes about baseball.Follow AuthorJun 04, 2026, 07:33pm EDTShohei Ohtani wants to win a Cy Young Award, and he is definitely making a case for it, while still hitting like he always has. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Getty ImagesShohei Ohtani has been amazing baseball fans in the United States for nine years. He continues to do things no one has seen before (unless there is someone out there who watched Babe Ruth consistently hit and pitch a mere 108 years ago).One season, when he wasn’t pitching, the Japanese sensation decided he would steal more bases. So, he stole 59. And did that while hitting 50 home runs (54, in fact). On the day he became the inaugural member of the 50/50 club, he went 6-for-6 with three dingers, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases. Alas, he did not pitch in that game.He is the first player to win the MVP award in both the American and National Leagues since Frank Robinson did so 60 years ago (first with the Reds in 1961, and then with the Orioles in 1966). But Robinson never won multiple MVPs in both leagues, which Ohtani has done.He has won three consecutive MVPs, and in four out of the last five years. He is only one of two players to win at least four MVPs, but he is the only one to win them all unanimously.In the pennant-winning game against the Brewers last season, all Ohtani did was throw six shutout innings and club three home runs (one clear out of Dodger Stadium).MORE FOR YOUThe two-way star has played for the Dodgers for two years and won two MVPs and two World Series titles. What else is there for this unicorn to accomplish?Well, this year Ohtani hinted that he wanted to win the Cy Young Award, one honor that has evaded him to this point. In fact, he has taken to not hitting on certain pitching days...