Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani
	Ohtani's name in kanji
Japanese name
Kanji	大谷翔平
Hiragana	おおたにしょうへい
Romanization
Transcriptions
Romanization	Ōtani Shōhei

Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani
	Ohtani in 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 17
	Pitcher / Designated hitter
	Born: July 5, 1994 (age 30); Ōshū, Iwate, Japan
	Bats: Left Throws: Right
Professional debut
	NPB: March 29, 2013, for the Hokkaidō Nippon-Ham Fighters
	MLB: March 29, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels
NPB statistics ; (through 2017 season)
Win–loss record	42–15
Earned run average	2.52
Strikeouts	624
Batting average	.286
Hits	296
Home runs	48
Runs batted in	166
MLB statistics ; (through July 28, 2024)
Win–loss record	38–19
Earned run average	3.01
Strikeouts	608
Batting average	.280
Hits	809
Home runs	203
Runs batted in	513
Teams
	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2013–2017); Los Angeles Angels (2018–2023); Los Angeles Dodgers (2024–present);
Career highlights and awards
	NPB Japan Series champion (2016); 5× NPB All-Star (2013–2017); Pacific League MVP (2016); 2× Pacific League Pitcher Best Nine (2015–2016); Designated Hitter Best Nine (2016); Pacific League ERA leader (2015); Pacific League Battery Award, with Shota Ono (2015); 2× Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize (2016, 2018); WBSC Player of the Year (2015); MLB 4× All-Star (2021–2024); 2× AL MVP (2021, 2023); 4× All-MLB First Team (2021–2023²); 2× All-MLB Second Team (2021, 2022); AL Rookie of the Year (2018); 2× Silver Slugger Award (2021, 2023); 3× Edgar Martínez Award (2021–2023); AL Hank Aaron Award (2023); AL home run leader (2023); AL triples leader (2021); Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award (2021); 2× AP Male Athlete of the Year (2021, 2023); Hit for the cycle on June 13, 2019; WBC World Baseball Classic MVP (2023); All-World Baseball Classic Team (2023);
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing Japan
World Baseball Classic
2015 WBSC Premier12

Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平 (おおたにしょうへい), Ōtani Shōhei, [oːtaɲi ɕoːheː]; born July 5, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Shotime",^[2] he has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Because of his elite contributions as a hitter and as a pitcher, a rarity for two-way players, Ohtani's 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons are considered among the greatest in baseball history, with some comparing them favorably to the early career of Babe Ruth.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

Considered early on as an elite two-way player, Ohtani was the first pick of the Fighters in the 2012 draft. He played in NPB for the Fighters from 2013 through 2017 as a pitcher and an outfielder, and won the 2016 Japan Series with them. The Fighters posted Ohtani to MLB after the 2017 season, and he signed with the Angels, soon winning the 2018 American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award.

Following an injury-plagued 2019 and 2020, Ohtani had a 2021 season widely considered historic. He became the first MLB player to hit at least 10 home runs, steal 20 bases, pitch at least 10 games, and strike out at least 100 batters in a single season. He also holds at least a share of the major league lead in home runs in 14 starts.^[8] He received the 2021 American League Most Valuable Player Award. In 2022, he became the first player in the modern era to qualify for both the hitting and pitching leaderboards in one season, reaching the thresholds of 3.1 plate appearances and one inning pitched per team game with 586 at-bats and 166 innings pitched.^[9]

Ohtani completed yet another historic campaign in 2023, becoming the first MLB player with 10 wins and 40 home runs in a season,^[10] the first Japanese-born player to win a major league home run title, leading the American League with 44 home runs,^[11] the first player in MLB history to win MVP by unanimous vote twice^[12] and the first Japanese player to have the most popular Major League Baseball jersey sales.^[13] After the 2023 season, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, the largest contract in professional sports history.^[14]

Internationally, Ohtani represents Japan. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he won the MVP Award for the tournament following Japan's victory over the United States. The 2023 final was one of the most-watched baseball games in history,^[15] culminating with Ohtani striking out Angels teammate and USA captain Mike Trout on a full count, securing a 3–2 win and Japan's third title.^[16]

^ "Shohei Otani named WBSC player of the year for 2015". The Japan Times. October 16, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
^ 木下大輔 (April 11, 2018). "日本ハム中田３号俺が元祖「ＳＨＯＴＩＭＥ」だ". 日刊スポーツ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
^ "Shohei Ohtani is the Greatest Baseball Player of All Time". March 24, 2023. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
^ "Angels News: Is Shohei Ohtani Having the Greatest Single Season Ever?". Los Angeles Angels. September 30, 2022. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
^ "Babe Ruth vs. Shohei Ohtani: Key stats to know in debate over MLB's best two-way player ever". March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
^ Verducci, Tom (July 5, 2021). "Shohei Ohtani Isn't Babe Ruth—He's Better". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
^ "Only One Player Has Ever Been As Good As Shohei Ohtani". June 30, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
^ Cite error: The named reference commissioner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Bollinger, Rhett (October 5, 2022). "Ohtani makes history again, becoming 1st player to do this". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Bollinger, Rhett (August 9, 2023). "Ohtani throws more zeros, makes more history". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^ "Ohtani becomes first Japanese MLB home-run champion". The Japan Times. October 2, 2023. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
^ "Shohei Ohtani first player to win MVP by unanimous vote twice". Los Angeles Times. November 16, 2023. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ Bollinger, Rhett (September 29, 2023). "Another 1st for Ohtani: Most popular MLB jersey in '23". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
^ Wexler, Sarah (December 11, 2023). "$700M stunner: Ohtani to Dodgers on biggest deal in sports history". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
^ "USA-Japan WBC Title Game Could Be the Most-Watched Baseball Game in History". March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
^ "Japan tops Team USA in dramatic finish to claim 3rd Classic title". Major League Baseball. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.

[1] "Shohei Otani named WBSC player of the year for 2015". The Japan Times. October 16, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.

[:0-2] 木下大輔 (April 11, 2018). "日本ハム中田３号俺が元祖「ＳＨＯＴＩＭＥ」だ". 日刊スポーツ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2019.

[3] "Shohei Ohtani is the Greatest Baseball Player of All Time". March 24, 2023. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.

[4] "Angels News: Is Shohei Ohtani Having the Greatest Single Season Ever?". Los Angeles Angels. September 30, 2022. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.

[5] "Babe Ruth vs. Shohei Ohtani: Key stats to know in debate over MLB's best two-way player ever". March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

[6] Verducci, Tom (July 5, 2021). "Shohei Ohtani Isn't Babe Ruth—He's Better". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.

[7] "Only One Player Has Ever Been As Good As Shohei Ohtani". June 30, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.

[commissioner-8] Cite error: The named reference commissioner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2022stats-9] Bollinger, Rhett (October 5, 2022). "Ohtani makes history again, becoming 1st player to do this". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.

[40hr10win-10] Bollinger, Rhett (August 9, 2023). "Ohtani throws more zeros, makes more history". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.

[alhomerun-11] "Ohtani becomes first Japanese MLB home-run champion". The Japan Times. October 2, 2023. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.

[almvp-12] "Shohei Ohtani first player to win MVP by unanimous vote twice". Los Angeles Times. November 16, 2023. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[jersey23-13] Bollinger, Rhett (September 29, 2023). "Another 1st for Ohtani: Most popular MLB jersey in '23". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.

[dodgers700m-14] Wexler, Sarah (December 11, 2023). "$700M stunner: Ohtani to Dodgers on biggest deal in sports history". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.

[15] "USA-Japan WBC Title Game Could Be the Most-Watched Baseball Game in History". March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.

[16] "Japan tops Team USA in dramatic finish to claim 3rd Classic title". Major League Baseball. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.

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