Shohei Ohtani Biography

Shohei Ohtani, born July 5, 1994, is a Japanese professional baseball player who serves as a designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball. Ohtani, nicknamed Shotime, has played for the Los Angeles Angels and previously competed in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. His dual role as a hitter and pitcher has made him a rare two-way player, with standout seasons compared to the early career of Babe Ruth. Ohtani was selected as the first pick by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 2012 NPB draft. After the 2017 season, the Fighters posted him to MLB, where he signed with the Angels and won the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year Award. In 2023, Ohtani earned his second unanimous American League Most Valuable Player award, leading the league with 44 home runs and recording 10 wins as a pitcher. Following the 2023 season, he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, the largest in professional sports history at the time.