The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the most complete rosters in baseball history, but if you thought Shohei Ohtani had reached his full potential, John Smoltz just made the MLB world think again.
In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Hall of Famer and former pitching great John Smoltz stated:
“If Ohtani pitched for a year straight and focused on just pitching, he would be the best pitcher in MLB, hands down.”
Ohtani returns to the mound and impresses immediately
After being sidelined for the 2024 season and the first three months of 2025 due to a second ulnar collateral ligament surgery, Ohtani returned on June 16 and the results were truly iconic: pure innings, allowing just one run.
But according to Smoltz, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Right now, he’s trying to do two normal things: be one of the best hitters and an elite pitcher. If he only focused on pitching, I’m sure Shohei would be number one, no one else.
Pitching Records: A True Cy Young Reminiscence
In six seasons as a pitcher, Ohtani has:
A record of 38-19
With an effectiveness of 2.97
618 strikeouts / 490.2 innings / 91 starts
Hit peaked in 2022, when he pitched 166 innings, posted a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts, and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award race.
Even after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament surgery, which included a Tommy John procedure and a modern inner pad procedure, Ohtani still throws with the velocity and rhythm that coaches and opponents fear.
The Dodgers are currently using him as a starter, throwing between 1 and 3 innings per game, but there is still room for improvement to see him return to being a true starter before the 2025 season returns.
A $700 million value and the big unknown.
With a record-breaking $700 million contract through 2033, the Dodgers are running out of steam at both the designated hitter and pitcher positions. But if the designated hitter pressure is removed, as Smoltz suggests, Los Angeles could claim the title as the new king of MLB.
A promising future and a big decision ahead.
Ohtani hasn’t had his final say. With the ability to master both roles—something no one in the modern era possesses—the question isn’t “can he?” but “which path will he take?”
One thing is certain: If Shohei Ohtani decides to go all in on pitching, we could be witnessing the beginning of an absolute Cy Young era, written by a superstar who was once not allowed to fit into any mold.