Shohei Ohtani is a popular Japanese professional baseball player. Born in Oahu, Iwate, Japan, Ohtani began his baseball career in  Hanamaki Higashi highschool and quickly excelled at pitching, throwing a 99 mph fastballs at 18 years old.

 

Shortly after highschool, 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 quicky 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 and was the first player to win  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 sighed on with the Dodgers for a record breaking 10-year 700 million contract. 

 

In his over all MLB career Ohtani made 606 strikeouts And 194 home runs.