Shohei Ohtani

Lore & Background

Ohtani was the first pick of the Fighters in the 2012 NPB draft. He played for the Fighters from 2013 through 2017 as a pitcher and an outfielder and won the 2016 Japan Series with them. The Fighters posted Ohtani to MLB after the 2017 season, and he signed with the Angels, soon winning the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year Award. He won his first AL MVP in 2021, his second unanimous AL MVP in 2023, and signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers after the 2023 season. He was unanimously named the 2024 NL MVP and won the 2024 World Series. He returned to pitching in 2025 and won his second consecutive NL MVP unanimously, becoming the only player to win multiple MVP awards in each league. He was named the 2025 NLCS MVP and won back-to-back championships in the 2025 World Series.

In Their Own Story

The scoreboard reads 3-0, top of the fourth. Angel Stadium is that particular shade of orange the sun hits it with in late afternoon, and the stands are so full you can't see the top row from the field. Ohtani is in the batter's box, left foot forward, the bat resting on his shoulder the way it always does — a little too casual, like he's waiting for a bus rather than facing a 98-mph slider. The pitcher stares. The crowd goes quiet in that way that's almost religious. The ball comes. The crack is not a sound so much as a *pressure change*, a sudden displacement of air that you feel in your chest before you hear it. The ball is gone. Ohtani is already jogging, hands on his hips, looking back at the fence with an expression that's almost apologetic, as if to say *sorry, that was supposed to be a routine at-bat.* The stadium detonates. Somewhere in the third-base stands, a kid in a size-8 #17 jersey is screaming so loud his mom has to cover his ears. This is the game. This is why you drive forty minutes in traffic for a Tuesday night. This is the Ohtani Era, and you are living inside it, and it will not last forever, and you know it, and it makes the moment more beautiful for exactly that reason.

Reader's Guide

Ohtani is a rare two-way player, contributing as both a hitter and a pitcher. He is known for his unprecedented 2021 season (46 home runs, 156 strikeouts) and his 2024 season (first player with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases). He has won multiple unanimous MVP awards and the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. He represents Japan internationally and led Team Japan to the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship, striking out Mike Trout in the final.

Did You Know?

• Ohtani was the first pick of the Fighters in the 2012 NPB draft.
• He won the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year Award with the Angels.
• He became the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season (2024).
• Ohtani is the only player to win multiple MVP awards in each league.
• He was awarded AP Male Athlete of the Year four times (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025).