LOS ANGELES, CA—Just like that, the 2026 Major League Baseball offseason is offically over, with the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers reporting to Camelback Ranch in Arizona today for the start of spring training.
That said, we’re continuing our annual tradition of previewing the Dodgers roster, and kicking off that list is designated hitter, which for the third consecutive year is set to be held by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
How Can Shohei Ohtani Reach an Even Higher Gear in Year Three of Dodger Blue?
Since joining the Dodgers in the 2024 offseason, Shohei Ohtani has been exceptional, earning consecutive National League MVP awards, bringing his career total to four, achieving historic milestones such as his 50/50 season in 2024, and setting a new franchise record with 55 home runs last season.
With the two-way superstar set to be fully unleashed with no restrictions on the mound in 2026, what can we truly expect from the offensive side?
The Dodgers have primarily benefited from Ohtani’s lack of innings pitched for the team in just his two short seasons, where he has hit .296/.391/634 with a 1.025 OPS and 183 OPS+, all higher than his six combined years with the cross highway rival, the Los Angeles Angels.
The Dodgers’ strong lineup, led by stars like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, prevents pitchers from avoiding him, providing Ohtani with more pitches to hit and more chances to drive in runs. His plate discipline improved in 2025, with better swing selection and an elite hard-contact rate, suggesting he might make another leap. His power stats already suggest a potential of 40–50+ home runs.
Those projections look very promising on FanGraphs, where Ohtani is set to have yet another MVP-caliber season, hitting .282/.385/.599 with a 165 wRC+, 26 stolen bases, and a combined 6.1 fWAR at the plate.
Other Options
If Ohtani needs to miss an extended period or a rest day between starts, the Dodgers have numerous internal options to serve as the designated hitter.
Before the Dodgers officially adopted a full-time designated hitter, they frequently rotated Max Muncy and Will Smith to rest their regular players while maintaining offensive production. Additionally, the team could utilize the designated hitter spot for platoon players like Miguel Rojas, Andy Pages, Ryan Ward, and others in their organization.
DodgersBeat Grade: A+
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