Shohei Ohtani has become a recently popular figure within baseball, with his recent historic campaigns compared to the likes of Babe Ruth. Born in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture, Ohtani was coached by his father and started playing baseball in his second year in elementary school.

Ohtani debuted in 2014 under the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters who eventually led the team to the 2016 Japan Series and became the Pacific League’s Most Valuable Player that year. Ohtani’s career with the Fighters came to an end in 2018 when he moved to play in the MLB with The Los Angeles Angels.

Ohtani made a record of over 10 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 100 strikeouts, and 10 pitches in the 2021 season, winning the American League Most Valuable Player Award that year. Ohtani’s 2021 season garnered him additional awards, including the Silver Slugger Award, Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, and two Guinness Book Of World Record titles.

And he hasn’t stopped there, since then Ohtani has only gotten better. 2023 saw him receive the MLB’s MVP vote yet again, this time in an unprecedented unanimous vote, among other huge awards. Lastly, Ohtani capped off the year by signing what is considered to be the largest contract in sports history, a $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.