Shohei Ohtani has defied gravity. Defied logic. And now, according to Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz — he may be on the verge of defying history itself.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way megastar has already rewritten what’s possible in modern baseball. But in a recent national broadcast, Smoltz dropped a jaw-dropping prediction that sent shockwaves across the league:
“If Ohtani just focused on throwing — just for one full season — he’d be the best pitcher in the world. Maybe the best MLB has ever seen.”
Coming from one of the most respected pitchers in baseball history — a Cy Young winner, World Series champion, and the only player with both 200 wins and 150 saves — the statement isn’t flattery. It’s a challenge. A prophecy.
And based on the numbers, the logic, and the glimpses of dominance Ohtani is already showing since returning to the mound, it might just be true.
A Once-in-a-Century Phenomenon — Still Evolving
Shohei Ohtani has always operated on a different plane. Since his arrival from Japan, he has shattered the mold of the modern specialist. A hitter with 40+ home runs per season. A pitcher with 100+ MPH heat and elite strikeout ability. The only player in the modern era to make the All-Star Game twice in the same year — as a hitter and pitcher.
And yet, what Smoltz is suggesting is that even that dual greatness might be diluting Ohtani’s true ceiling.
“He’s the best two-way player we’ve ever seen. That’s not up for debate,” Smoltz said. “But I’m telling you, if he gave up the bat — even just for a season — we’d see something that would make Pedro, Koufax, and maybe even Maddux say: wow.”
Back from Surgery, Back to Dominance
After undergoing elbow surgery in late 2023, Ohtani spent the 2024 season as a full-time designated hitter for the Dodgers. Even in recovery, he delivered an MVP-caliber season at the plate. But 2025 marked his long-awaited return to the mound — and the early results?
Terrifying.
In just six starts this season, Ohtani has posted:
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ERA: 1.74
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WHIP: 0.87
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Opponents’ batting average: .178
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Strikeouts: 61 in 41.1 innings
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Fastball velocity: 99.7 MPH average, touching 101.3
These aren’t just elite numbers — they’re historic. And keep in mind: he’s still splitting his time, still managing batting cages, film sessions, and the mental toll of being an everyday hitter.
Smoltz’s question is simple: What if all of that went away — and Ohtani had only one job: dominate from 60 feet, 6 inches?
“He Has Stuff I Never Dreamed Of”
Smoltz isn’t prone to exaggeration. A meticulous analyst, he’s always careful with praise. But when it comes to Ohtani’s arsenal, he’s downright glowing.
“He has four wipeout pitches,” Smoltz said. “His splitter drops off a cliff. His slider has more horizontal movement than mine ever did. His fastball rides late. And he does it all effortlessly.”
In his most recent outing against the Atlanta Braves — a team that Smoltz knows better than anyone — Ohtani struck out 11 through six innings, including Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley all swinging through splitters that vanished below the zone.
Veteran Braves commentator Chip Caray said it best: “You don’t hit that pitch. You guess and hope. And if you’re wrong — you’re walking back.”
The Mental Toll of Doing Both
What Smoltz is also highlighting — indirectly — is the mental fatigue of two-way play. While fans marvel at Ohtani’s workload, few understand the grind.
Pitchers typically spend four days between starts preparing — scouting hitters, bullpen sessions, recovery work. Ohtani doesn’t get that luxury. He’s hitting cleanup the next day. Then doing it again. And again.
Smoltz, who spent his final years toggling between starter and closer, understands the mental challenge more than most.
“It’s not about physical burnout,” he said. “It’s the cognitive load. Planning at-bats. Reading pitchers. Recovering from a 100-pitch outing while getting slider after slider thrown at your knees the next day. Nobody’s ever done this before.”
Dodgers Respond — Gently
When asked about Smoltz’s comments, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t dismiss them. In fact, he nodded slowly and said:
“Look, Shohei’s not normal. And we’ve said from Day One — we’re going to give him the space to choose the path that’s best for him. If he ever wanted to go all-in on pitching, the sky isn’t even the limit. It’s… somewhere beyond that.”
Privately, some within the Dodgers front office are intrigued. They know what’s at stake. Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history not just for his bat, but for the combination. But if choosing one path could unlock a level never before seen?
They wouldn’t stand in his way.
Shohei Stays Humble — For Now
After hearing Smoltz’s comments, Ohtani offered a quiet smile in the postgame scrum.
“I love hitting. I love pitching. For now, I’ll keep doing both. But it’s an honor to hear something like that from a legend like Mr. Smoltz,” he said. “All I’m trying to do is help my team win. Everything else is noise.”
But those close to Ohtani know: he hears the noise. He processes it. And when the moment comes, he adapts. Evolves.
He always has.
The Hypothetical That Terrifies Hitters
Imagine a version of Ohtani that doesn’t swing a bat. Who doesn’t get sore hamstrings from base running. Who doesn’t have to watch film of opposing pitchers. Who uses his recovery days to fine-tune his slider grip or analyze tunneling metrics.
A 101-mph flamethrower with command, break, and six days of pure prep between starts?
That’s not just an ace.
That’s a nightmare.
Will He Do It?
No one knows. Not Roberts. Not Smoltz. Not even Ohtani himself. But one thing is clear: the door is open. And now, the conversation has begun.
A full-time pitcher Shohei Ohtani wouldn’t be a compromise.
He’d be a weapon.
And if John Smoltz is right — if we’ve only scratched the surface of Ohtani’s potential — then the future of pitching may be about to change forever.