Shohei Ohtani Makes History Before 2026 Season Pitching Debut
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is set to make his first start on Tuesday, March 31, in a season where he wants to win a Cy Young award, but he will have already made history before stepping on the mound. Ohtani enters Tuesday with a ridiclous 35 game on-base streak, making it the longest on-base streak by a player making a pitching start since 1961, per MLB. com’s Sarah Langs.
The closest streak in this time period is 14 games by Rick Rhoden, set in 1985. It is no surprise that Ohtani would hold a record for a batting streak as a pitcher since he is a never-before-seen baseball unicorn who pitches and hits at an elite level. Mar 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts in the dugout during the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Even Babe Ruth never reached the heights that Ohtani has. He already has four MVPs in fewer than half as many games as Ruth, along with two championships. Ruth has the longevity over Ohtani, has higher career bWAR and more World Series titles, but Ohtani is a notably better pitcher than Ruth, with already more strikeouts and a better ERA adjusted to the time period.
Additionally, Ohtani is having all of this success in an era of insane athleticism and modern medicine, allowing players to perform at levels never before seen on the diamond. In 2026, as a hitter, Ohtani is 2-for-12 with 4 walks and a hit by pitch, not nearly representative of his skill set but a sign that he can impact the game even when he does not hit the ball. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation) Shohei Ohtani’s goals Ohtani is extremely goal-oriented, a trait that has led to his success since a young age, and he has made it clear to the media that he wants to contend for the Cy Young Award in 2026.
With multiple MVPs, All-Star Game appearances, and Silver Slugger awards, it is the top pitching accolade that Ohtani wants to add more than anything. On top of the award, the Japanese star wants to pitch well into his 30s, all while continuing to hit. “The idea is that he wants to pitch for the next 8 years, we want him to pitch for the next 8 years,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said of Ohtani.