Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese professional baseball player. Born in the Iwate prefecture of Japan, Ohtani developed a skill for baseball at a young age and played consistently through his high school years, where his skill only grew. At 18, he set a Japanese high school record for throwing a 99 mph fastball, which was broken years later.

Shortly after high school, Ohtani was picked by the The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 2012 NPB Draft. Ohtani played for the Fighters until 2017, when he was picked by the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani quickly began to make records, becoming the first rookie to hit three home runs in his first three days. By the end of 2018, Ohtani was named American League Rookie of the Year.

Ohtani continued with his record-making. By 2021, Ohtani earned his second American League Player of the Month Award and was the first player to win the Player of the Month Award back-to-back since Chase Headley in 2012. He was also named Associated Press AP Athlete of the Year, Baseball America Major League Player of the Year, Baseball Digest Player of the Year, and more.

Ohtani’s 2022 season even got him recognition from the Guinness World Records, being the first MLB player to achieve 100+ innings and record 100+ strikeouts as a pitcher, and 100+ RBIs, hits, and runs as a batter in a single season and the first player to start the MLB All-Star Game as a pitcher and a designated hitter.

Ohtani’s time with the Angels ended in 2023, where he signed on with the Dodgers for a record-breaking 10-year, 700 million contract. Ohtani’s performance with the Dodgers has cemented himself as one of the best baseball players in the sport’s history.