Braves legend John Smoltz makes bold prediction on Shohei Ohtani's 2026 Dodgers season

Shohei Ohtani's first season with the Dodgers saw him become the inaugural member of the 50-50 club. Ohtani ended the regular season with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. Notably, the 30-year-old has yet to take the mound for the Dodgers.

Ohtani has started where he left off last year and oddsmakers favor him to win his third consecutive MVP title. However, MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz believes Ohtani's best is yet to come.

Smoltz, an 8x All-Star, who spent 21 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Braves, appeared on the "Rich Eisen Show" on Tuesday. Eisen wanted to know whether Ohtani should pitch, and Smoltz revealed his thoughts.

"I do think they should pitch him, and I think that's what he wants," Smoltz said [From 8:32]. "The reality of what he did and why he came over here is all about playing two ways. So I think in a perfect world, in the next three years that'll end, but in the next three years, he's going to want to do this."

The 58-year-old believes that the Dodgers owe it to Ohtani to fulfill his ambitions, courtesy of his status as the greatest player of the current generation.

"Second half, he'll start pitching. He's got such a weapon on the mound. He’ll get used to that second surgery, and then, next year, watch out. Next year could be the most complete year we've ever seen out of anybody in the history of our game," Smoltz added.

The 1996 NL Cy Young winner hailed Ohtani, citing his ability to manipulate pitches.

John Smoltz suggests how Shohei Ohtani could impact the Dodgers in the potential 2025 postseason

Before the start of the 2025 season, the Dodgers boasted a starting rotation comprising Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, among others. However, many of the starters on the injured list and fans are wondering if that would prompt Ohtani's return to the mound earlier than anticipated.

Shohei Ohtani during the Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres game- Source: Imagn

After hearing John Smoltz's bold prediction, sportscaster Rich Eisen wanted to know whether there is a chance the prediction could happen sooner than 2026, in the 2025 postseason.

"Yeah, I think the fact that if you can get 10 starts under your belt before he gets into the postseason, and I think that's realistic, he'll be able to pitch meaningful games for the Dodgers again," Smoltz replied [From 9:38].

The Braves Hall of Famer pointed out that the Dodgers won the World Series without a healthy starting rotation last year, but it won't happen this season. He believes the Dodgers have the best starting rotation on paper if they find a way to keep them all healthy.