Shohei Ohtani has broken new ground as the first Major League Baseball player to successfully both pitch and hit. He plays for the Los Angeles Angels as a designated hitter, outfielder, and starting pitcher, and is highly respected as one of the premier players in the sport, potentially destined for the Hall of Fame.
Shohei Ohtani Early Life
Ohtani hails from Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and was born on July 5, 1994, as the youngest of three children to Kayoko and Toru Ohtani.
His father was a former amateur baseball player who worked as a salaried employee at a nearby automobile manufacturer. His mother, who was a national-level badminton player in high school, was supportive of her son’s baseball aspirations.
From a young age, Ohtani had a passion for the sport, beginning to play at the age of four and idolizing the likes of Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. His dreams of becoming a professional baseball player were cultivated in a supportive family environment.
He was a standout student-athlete at Hanamaki Higashi High School in Iwate Prefecture, where he was a star pitcher and hitter for the school’s baseball team.
He is the youngest of three children and his older brother Ryuta is an avid amateur baseball player in the Japanese Industrial League. His elder sister Yuka is very close to him and has always been an excellent cheerleader for him.
Baseball Career
Shohei Ohtani started his professional baseball journey with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2013 to 2017. During this time, he was an impressive pitcher and a powerful hitter in the Pacific League, garnering a multitude of awards and titles.
He achieved an impressive 42-15 record on the pitcher’s mound, with a 2.52 ERA, 624 strikeouts, a .286 batting average from the plate, 48 home runs, and 166 RBIs.
In 2017, Ohtani stirred up a great deal of anticipation when he declared his ambition to play in Major League Baseball and was made available to all 30 teams by the Fighters. Finally, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017, becoming one of the most highly anticipated prospects in baseball history.
He first appeared in Major League Baseball on March 29, 2018, as a designated hitter, and three days later, on April 3, he hit his first home run. His pitching debut occurred on April 1 and he won his first game.
Shohei Ohtani was an outstanding rookie in 2018, batting .285 with 22 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 367 plate appearances. On the mound, he had an impressive 4-2 record with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 51.2 innings.
This accomplishment made him the first player since Babe Ruth in 1919 to both hit 20 home runs and pitch 50 innings in the same season.
Additionally, he is the only person to have ever hit 15 home runs and strike out 50 batters in one year. This feat earned him the American League Rookie of the Year Award in a unanimous vote.
In his fourth season in Major League Baseball, Shohei Ohtani gave a historic performance. After pushing through his injuries, his two-way abilities were on full display.
He became the first player to be chosen for the All-Star Game in both pitching and hitting roles and then he became the first to start in both those positions in the All-Star Game.
His 47 home runs topped the majors, and he also stole 26 bases, making him the first to have 40+ home runs and 20+ steals since Ryan Braun in 2009.
He made MLB history during his fifth season, becoming the first player to record 30+ home runs and 150+ strikeouts in a single season.
Additionally, he became the first player to hit 35+ home runs and steal 10+ bases in back-to-back seasons. As a result of his achievements, he was selected as an All-Star for the third time and was named to the All-MLB First Team.
Personal Life
As of 2023, Shohei Ohtani relationship’s status remains unmarried and without children. He is very wary of sharing information about his romantic life and has kept any details about his dating life or current relationship status under wraps. His main focus is his career in baseball, but he still makes time to spend with his family and friends.
Shohei Ohtani’s Net Worth
As of 2023, it is estimated that Shohei Ohtani’s total net worth is somewhere in the range of $25 to $50 million. The lion’s share of his wealth has come from his professional baseball endeavors in both Japan and the major leagues.
Additionally, Ohtani has endorsement contracts with a variety of companies, including Asics, Oakley, Topps, Fanatics, and BodyArmor.
