Global InformationShohei Ohtani information
| Shohei Ohtani | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Ohtani in 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitcher / Designated hitter | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: July 5, 1994 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 166 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through May 6, 2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 38–19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 606 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .280 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 182 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 464 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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| Shohei Ohtani | |||||
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 Ohtani's name in kanji | |||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 大谷 翔平 | ||||
| Hiragana | おおたに しょうへい | ||||
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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 both as a hitter and as a pitcher, a rarity for two-way players, Ohtani's peak is widely considered among the greatest in baseball history, with some comparing it 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 to be historic. He became the first in the history of MLB with 10+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases as a hitter and 100+ strikeouts and 10+ pitching appearances as a pitcher in the same season. He also holds at least a share of the major league lead in home runs in 14 starts.[8] For his efforts, he was awarded the 2021 American League Most Valuable Player Award. He followed this in 2022 by becoming 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 game with 586 at-bats and 166 innings pitched.[9]
Ohtani completed yet another historic campaign in 2023, becoming the first player in MLB history 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「ＳＨＯ ＴＩＭＥ」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
commissionerwas 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.