From 50/50 to Cy Young? Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani on a mission
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani is on a mission to become a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, and his journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
As a two-way player, Ohtani has already achieved great success, becoming the first designated hitter to win an MVP and setting a new standard for baserunning. But now, he's aiming higher, and his teammates and coaches are taking notice.
'He seems like he's on a mission, pitching-wise,' Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. 'Whenever we've seen him on a mission, good things happen.'
Ohtani's dedication to pitching is evident in his work ethic and his willingness to push himself to the limit. During spring training, he threw consistently in the mid-90s, a notable development for someone who traditionally likes to ease into his throwing program.
'He'll start rattling off and start talking about what's going on because he knows obviously, his time's limited,' pitching coach Mark Prior said. 'I didn't have an appreciation that that's how it was going to be.'
Ohtani's focus on pitching is not just a coincidence. He's surrounded by a talented group of pitchers, including two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, who possess some of the sport's best raw stuff. And with a rotation that includes young, promising starters like Emmet Sheehan and Gavin Stone, Ohtani has the opportunity to push himself to new heights.
'There's no ceiling with him,' Dodgers catcher Will Smith said. 'He can go out there and win a Cy Young this year. I have no doubt about that.'
Ohtani's journey to becoming a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher is not without its challenges. He's had to overcome injuries and adapt to a new role, but his determination and work ethic have carried him through. With the support of his teammates and coaches, he's poised to make a significant impact on the sport.
'He wants a Cy Young,' backup catcher Dalton Rushing said. 'He wants a Cy Young, and you can tell with the way he's carrying himself here recently.'
As Ohtani continues to push himself to new heights, the question remains: can he achieve his goal of winning the Cy Young Award? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: he's on a mission, and he's determined to succeed.
