Shohei Ohtani Named National League Pitcher of the Month for March/April 2026

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani was recognized as the National League Pitcher of the Month for March and April 2026, marking the first time in his career he has earned this pitching honor. According to Dodger Blue, Ohtani posted a 2-1 record with a 0.60 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across five starts during this period.

Performance Statistics and League Standing

Ohtani’s performance during the opening months of the 2026 season placed him among the top pitchers in Major League Baseball. Among all pitchers who made at least five starts, Ohtani led the Majors in ERA and tied for the lead in fewest runs allowed. He also ranked sixth in fewest hits allowed and seventh in WHIP, according to Dodger Blue.

His statistical profile included:

• ERA: 0.60
• WHIP: 0.87
• Strikeouts: 34
• Hits Allowed: 17
• Opponents’ Batting Average: .160

Historical Context and Comparisons

Ohtani is the first Dodgers pitcher to receive this award since Yoshinobu Yamamoto won it in September 2025. His performance places him in elite company regarding recent franchise history. He became the first Dodgers pitcher to maintain an ERA of 0.60 or lower over five starts in a single month since Hyun Jin Ryu achieved a 0.55 ERA in July 2019, as reported by Dodger Blue.

Furthermore, Ohtani is the first pitcher to throw at least six innings in each of his first five starts of a season while allowing no home runs, fewer than six hits, and one earned run or fewer since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913. He is currently one of six Japanese-born pitchers to win the Pitcher of the Month award, joining a group that includes Hideo Nomo, Hideki Irabu, Masahiro Tanaka, Yu Darvish, and his teammate, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Team Milestone

The success of the Dodgers’ pitching rotation is shared among multiple players. Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto each threw at least six innings in their first five starts of the 2026 season. According to Dodger Blue, this makes the Dodgers the first club to have three pitchers accomplish this feat in the same season since the Cleveland Indians in 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many times has Ohtani won Pitcher of the Month? This is the first time in his career that Shohei Ohtani has received the National League Pitcher of the Month honor.
• Who was the last Dodgers pitcher to win this award? Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the last Dodgers pitcher to win the award, earning it in September 2025.
• What historical record did Ohtani set in 2026? He is the first pitcher since 1913 to throw at least six innings in his first five starts while giving up no home runs, fewer than six hits, and one earned run or fewer.