The first two starts he made, Ōtonari notched complete game victories, also only giving up one run in 18 innings while recording 18 strikeouts.

Still, Ōtonari finished with a respectable 11–8 with a 3.12 ERA, spinning six complete games in 21 starts, striking out 138 batters in 155 and 2/3 innings.

In September, Ōtonari was sent to the bullpen and after five appearances there, he seemed to respond at the end of the month, recording two consecutive quality starts.

On July 13, 2014, Ōttonari returned and threw as relief pitcher against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, for the first time in 408 days after the secession.

On July 22, he threw and won as a starting pitcher against Orix Buffaloes, for the first time in 422 days after the secession.

On October 2, Ōttonari took the mound for the final race of the season when Hawks and Buffaloes fight for the Pacific League championship.

He threw six innings with four hits, seven strikeouts, no runs, and led the Hawks to Pacific League champion.

[3] A left-handed junkballer, Ōtonari generally throws his fastball in the mid to high-80s, but has shown that he can get strikeouts with his breaking pitches, very similar to former teammate Toshiya Sugiuchi.