​Shohei Ohtani won’t sacrifice his health chasing a Cy Young Award. That was the central takeaway from the reports that he would skip his scheduled pitching start on Friday and sit out the All-Star Game next week. Instead, Ohtani will receive treatment for his irritated left knee, giving the Dodgers a chance to breathe easier. The two-way star has repeatedly stressed that his top priority is entering October in peak condition, and his actions this week underscored that philosophy.
Ohtani was well enough to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and to serve as the Dodgers’ designated hitter in the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks two days later. That means he could have pressed through and made one last start before the All-Star break if he had chosen to. Yet his course of action signals a different priority: the team’s postseason hopes over individual accolades.
From manager Dave Roberts’ perspective, the emphasis has always been on the bigger goal. “He’s always said the goal is October,” Roberts said. “He’s had the Cy Young in mind, and understandably so, but nothing is going to come in front of being healthy for October.” In hindsight, this approach wasn’t surprising.
Consider Ohtani’s 2023 season with the Angels, his final year in which he started games. By the All-Star break, he had 17 starts, three more than he has accumulated this year. In an early-August start against the Mariners that season, he departed after just four innings due to an unfamiliar sensation in his pitching hand—the middle finger cramping. After the game, there was discussion about whether he should undergo an MRI, but Ohtani declined and kept pitching. Two starts later, his elbow gave out, and he required Tommy John surgery the following month.
From an outsider’s view, Ohtani’s insistence on continuing to pitch seemed to be aligned with the team’s needs rather than personal gain. At the time, the Angels were 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Rangers, and a strong finish from their superstar could have altered their postseason fate. By the time he was two months away from free agency, the tempting lure of hundreds of millions of dollars could have made the selfish choice seem reasonable. Yet Ohtani appeared ready to risk his personal best interests to keep his club’s postseason dream alive.
In the present context, his decision to pause the pitching workload and to focus on health ahead of October reflects a consistent pattern: Ohtani’s actions prioritize team objectives and long-term value over short-term personal milestones. While the Cy Young remains a tantalizing target, he has shown that the ultimate prize—the chance to compete in October—takes precedence. This restraint, rather than reckless pursuit of individual glory, defines how he manages his remarkable dual role and his obligations to the Dodgers and their broader ambitions.