Career Timeline of Shohei Ohtani: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Shohei Ohtani, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Shohei Ohtani, nicknamed "Shotime", is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing as both a designated hitter and pitcher. He previously played for the Los Angeles Angels and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan. Ohtani is renowned as a rare two-way player, excelling as both a hitter and pitcher, leading to comparisons to Babe Ruth and recognition for some of the greatest seasons in baseball history.
1918: Babe Ruth Recorded Double Digits
In 1918, Babe Ruth won 13 games and hit 11 home runs for the Boston Red Sox during the Major League Baseball season, marking the last instance of a player recording at least 10 wins as a pitcher and at least 10 home runs as a batter in the same season until Ohtani replicated the feat.
1950: Takechi Played and Batted in the Order
In 1950, Osamu Takechi was the first player to start a game as a pitcher, bat in the heart of the order (3rd through 5th), and get a hit and an RBI in that game, followed by Ohtani.
1951: Tokunaga Used as Pitcher and Position Player
In 1951, Kikuo Tokunaga was the second Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB) rookie drafted out of high school the previous year to be used as both a pitcher and position player, with Ohtani following his example.
1963: Kajimoto Batted in the Order
In 1963, Takao Kajimoto was the first NPB pitcher since 1963 to bat 3rd, 4th, or 5th, followed by Ohtani.
1967: Moriyasu's Shutout Victory
In 1967, Toshiaki Moriyasu was the first pitcher out of high school to record a 1-0 shutout victory within his first two years for the Fighters, a feat later achieved by Shohei Ohtani.
2001: Matsuzaka's Salary
In December, Shohei Ohtani became the second player out of high school in NPB history to reach 100M yen in salary in his third year, after Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2001.
2003: Hideki Matsui's World Series Home Run
In 2003, Hideki Matsui hit a home run in the World Series, making him and Ohtani the only Japanese-born players to achieve this.
October 21, 2012: Decision to Pursue MLB
On October 21, 2012, Shohei Ohtani announced his decision to pursue a career in Major League Baseball (MLB) after high school.
2012: U-18 Baseball World Cup
In 2012, Ohtani was selected to Japan's national under-18 team that finished in sixth place at the U-18 Baseball World Cup in Seoul.
2012: First Pick in NPB Draft
In 2012, Shohei Ohtani was the first pick of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft, recognized early as an elite two-way player.
2012: Threw 99 mph Fastball
In 2012, as an 18-year-old high school pitcher, Shohei Ohtani threw a 99 mph fastball, which set a Japanese high school baseball record at the time.
March 29, 2013: Fighters' Season-Opening Debut
On March 29, 2013, Shohei Ohtani made his debut in the Fighters' season-opening game at age 18, playing as a right fielder.
2013: Debut with the Fighters
In 2013, Shohei Ohtani began playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters as both a pitcher and an outfielder.
July 2014: Fastest Pitch Thrown by a Japanese Pitcher
During the July 2014 All-Star Game, Shohei Ohtani threw a 101 mph fastball, setting a new record for the fastest official pitch thrown by a Japanese pitcher.
2015: WBSC Premier12 Tournament
In 2015, Ohtani earned a bronze medal with Team Japan in the inaugural WBSC Premier12 tournament. He was the ace of Japan's pitching staff, made two pitching appearances against South Korea, winning Game 1 of the opening round and getting a no-decision in the semifinals. Ohtani was named to the Premier12 All-World Team and was named the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation Baseball Player of the Year.
2015: Dominant Performance in Premier 12
In 2015, Shohei Ohtani was dominant for the Japanese national team in the Premier 12, named the All-Star SP for the event.
2015: All-Star and Best Nine Awards
In 2015, Shohei Ohtani's performance on the mound was among the best in the league, earning him the starter role in the 2015 All-Star Game and the pitching spot in the end-of-year Pacific League Best Nine awards.
2016: Dominant Pitcher and Hitter, League MVP
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani hit 22 home runs and also had a career-low ERA of 1.86, winning the Best Nine award as both a designated hitter and a pitcher. He was named the Pacific League MVP.
2016: Led Nippon Ham to Japan Series
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani led Nippon Ham to the 2016 Japan Series where they won their second Japan Series title.
2016: Best Nine Award and Pacific League MVP
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani made the Best Nine as both top pitcher and top DH in the Pacific League, becoming the first player to achieve this dual recognition. He also won the 2016 Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award by a landslide, receiving 253 out of 254 first-place votes.
2016: Won the Japan Series with Fighters
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani won the Japan Series with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
November 21, 2017: MLB and NPB reach posting agreement for Ohtani
On November 21, 2017, Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) reached an agreement regarding Ohtani's posting, paving the way for him to potentially play in MLB in 2018.
December 9, 2017: Signing with the Los Angeles Angels
On December 9, 2017, Shohei Ohtani officially signed a deal with the Los Angeles Angels, marking his entry into Major League Baseball.
2017: Posted to MLB
After the 2017 season, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters posted Shohei Ohtani to Major League Baseball (MLB).
2017: Withdrawal from World Baseball Classic
In 2017, Ohtani was on Team Japan's 28-man roster for the World Baseball Classic but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury.
2017: Ohtani signs with CAA Sports
In 2017, Shohei Ohtani was represented by agent Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, shortly after announcing his plans to pursue an MLB career.
September 2018: Last pitching appearance prior to injury
Ohtani's last pitching appearance before a hiatus due to injury was in September 2018, before returning in July of 2020.
2018: Intended MLB Debut
In 2017, Ohtani intended to debut in the MLB in 2018, so he asked to be posted at the end of the season.
2018: AL Rookie of the Year Award
In 2018, Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels and soon after won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award.
2018: Implementation of "Ohtani Rules"
In 2018, the Angels implemented the "Ohtani Rules", mirroring his schedule in Japan. This restricted his usage to pitching once a week and hitting three to four times between starts.
May 7, 2019: First Game After Tommy John Surgery
On May 7, 2019, Shohei Ohtani played his first game with the Angels since undergoing Tommy John surgery, serving as a designated hitter against the Detroit Tigers.
2019: Overhauling offseason in 2019
After the results of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Ohtani spent the offseason overhauling himself and adjusting his diet.
2020: Overhauling offseason in 2020
After the results of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Ohtani spent the offseason overhauling himself and adjusting his diet.
2020: Return to Pitching and Flexor Strain
In 2020, Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound on July 26 against the Oakland Athletics for the first time since September 2018, but struggled in his appearance. After his second start, he experienced discomfort and was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow, ending his pitching for the season.
November 16, 2021: Ohtani Joins FTX as Global Ambassador
On November 16, 2021, Shohei Ohtani joined cryptocurrency exchange FTX as a global ambassador, partnering on various animal charitable initiatives.
2021: All-Star Selection and Home Run Record
In 2021, Ohtani hit his 32nd home run of the year, surpassing Hideki Matsui's 2004 record for the most home runs hit during a season by a Japanese-born player in MLB. He became the first player to be selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher and participated in the 2021 Home Run Derby.
2021: First AL MVP Award
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani hit 46 home runs and struck out 156 batters, leading to him winning his first American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award (MVP).
2021: Awards and Accolades for Ohtani in 2021
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player, becoming the 23rd pitcher and first designated hitter to win the award. He was named to the All-MLB Team as both a designated hitter and starting pitcher, won the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, and received the Silver Slugger Award. He was also named to Time 100's list of most influential people, Associated Press Athlete of the Year, Sporting News Athlete of the Year, and Baseball America Major League Player of the Year, among other honors.
2021: Ohtani's MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were an MLB league-leading $6 million.
2021: Recognition and Awards for 2021 Season
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani's season was recognized with two Guinness World Records, one for being the first MLB player to achieve 100+ innings and 100+ strikeouts as a pitcher, and 100+ RBIs, hits, and runs as a batter in a single season. The second Guinness record was for being the first player to start the MLB All-Star Game as a pitcher and designated hitter. He also received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award for his historically significant and unprecedented 2021 season. Later that year, his 2021 season was ranked No. 1 by The Sporting News as "The 50 greatest seasons in sports history".
2021: Ohtani ties Babe Ruth's record
In September of 2021, Ohtani tied Babe Ruth's AL/NL record of walks in a 4 game span.
March 22, 2022: Introduction of the "Ohtani Rule"
On March 22, 2022, Major League Baseball introduced a new rule allowing a pitcher in the batting order to remain in the game as a designated hitter after being removed from the pitching mound, known as the "Ohtani rule".
July 6, 2022: Ohtani makes MLB history against Miami Marlins
On July 6, 2022, Shohei Ohtani made MLB history against the Miami Marlins by becoming the first player since RBI became an official statistic in 1920 to record 10 strikeouts as a pitcher, two RBIs as a batter, and a stolen base all in a single game.
August 9, 2022: Historical Feats Against Oakland Athletics
On August 9, 2022, Shohei Ohtani completed three historical feats in a game against the Oakland Athletics: he joined Babe Ruth in an exclusive 10-homer, 10-win club; moved up on the all-time home run list for Japanese-born players; and set a single-season career high in strikeouts. He tossed six scoreless innings to earn his 10th win of the season for the first time in his Major League career.
2022: Qualified for Hitting and Pitching Leaderboards
In 2022, Shohei Ohtani became the first player in the modern era to qualify for both the hitting and pitching leaderboards in one season, finishing third in the AL with 219 strikeouts as a pitcher.
2022: Ohtani's MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings
In 2022, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were an MLB league-leading $20 million.
2022: Ohtani Makes MLB History with RBI and Strikeout Feats in June 2022
In June 2022, Shohei Ohtani made MLB history by becoming the first player in the American League or National League to have at least eight RBIs in a game and strike out at least 10 batters the next day. On June 21, Ohtani hit a pair of three-run homers and set a career-high with eight RBIs, becoming the first player born in Japan to have eight RBIs in a game.
2022: Ohtani's 2022 Season Performance
In the 2022 season, Shohei Ohtani finished with a 15–9 record, a 2.33 ERA, and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings. He also hit .273/.356/.519 with 34 homers, 30 doubles, 11 stolen bases, and 95 RBIs in 157 games.
July 2, 2023: Ohtani Wins Sixth AL Player of the Week Award in July 2023
Shohei Ohtani won his sixth career AL Player of the Week award, surpassing Suzuki for the most by a Japanese-born player, after hitting six home runs with a 1.783 OPS over a seven-day span from June 26 to July 2, 2023. His performance in June was considered to be the best June in MLB history.
August 2023: First Pitching Appearance Since August 2023
On June 16, 2025, Ohtani made his first pitching appearance as a Dodger, and first since August 2023, against the Padres, pitching one inning while allowing one run on two hits.
September 2023: Ohtani's Elbow Surgery and 2024 Season
In September 2023, Shohei Ohtani underwent elbow surgery, leading to an announcement with the Dodgers that he would not pitch in the 2024 season.
December 11, 2023: Ohtani Signs Historic Contract with the Dodgers
On December 11, 2023, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking the largest contract in professional sports history at the time.
2023: All-WBC Team Selection
Following Japan's win in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Ohtani became the first player to be named to the All-WBC team at two separate positions, as both a designated hitter (DH) and a pitcher.
2023: 2023 World Baseball Classic
In 2023, Ohtani played for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and was named the Pool B MVP. He earned the save in the championship game, striking out Mike Trout to clinch Japan's WBC championship. Ohtani won the tournament's MVP award after batting .435/.606/.739 and posting a 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
2023: Ohtani's 2023 Regular Season Achievements
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani ended the regular season as the first Japanese-born player to lead a U.S. major league in home runs, capturing the American League title with 44 home runs.
2023: World Baseball Classic Championship
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani led Team Japan to their third championship at the World Baseball Classic and was named the tournament's MVP. The final game against the United States culminated in Ohtani striking out his Angels teammate, Mike Trout, securing a 3–2 victory.
2023: Ohtani Wins MVP and Other Awards in 2023
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player for the second time, becoming the first player in MLB history to win MVP by unanimous vote twice. He won his third straight Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award and his first career AL Hank Aaron Award.
2023: Second Unanimous AL MVP
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani won his second unanimous American League (AL) MVP award, leading the AL with 44 home runs while also recording 10 wins as a pitcher, becoming the first player to win multiple unanimous MVPs and the first Japanese-born player to win a league home run title.
2023: Ohtani's MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were estimated to be an MLB league-leading $35–40 million.
2023: Ohtani Passes Babe Ruth on Strikeout List in 2023
In 2023, after being named MVP of the World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani made his second straight Opening Day start for the Angels. On May 10, 2023, he struck out Jeremy Peña of the Astros for his 502nd career pitching strikeout, passing Babe Ruth on the all-time strikeout list.
2023: Ohtani's One-Year Deal for 2023
On October 1, 2022, the Angels avoided arbitration with Shohei Ohtani, signing him to a one-year deal worth $30 million for the 2023 season.
2023: Ohtani Earns All-Star Roster Spot in 2023
Shohei Ohtani earned an automatic spot on the 2023 All-Star roster as a DH after being the leading vote-getter in the American League All-Star ballot and was also elected as an All-Star pitcher, marking his third straight year as an All-Star as both a pitcher and DH.
2024: Signed with the Dodgers and named NL MVP
After the 2023 season, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2024, unable to pitch due to an elbow injury, Ohtani played only as a DH and was named the National League (NL) MVP after recording 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, also winning the 2024 World Series.
2024: National League MVP Award
After the 2024 season, Ohtani, with his 50–50 performance, won the National League Most Valuable Player award unanimously. It was his third career unanimous MVP award, second consecutive unanimous MVP award, and his first in the National League. With this distinction, he became the first and only player in Major League Baseball history to win three MVP awards unanimously, two consecutive unanimous MVP awards, and unanimous MVP awards in both the American and National leagues. Additionally, he became the second player after Frank Robinson to win MVP awards in both leagues. On December 23, Ohtani won his third AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for the second-most wins in history.
2024: Ohtani's Dodgers Debut
In 2024, Shohei Ohtani debuted with the Dodgers as the designated hitter on March 20 in Seoul against the San Diego Padres as part of the MLB Seoul Series. He also achieved significant milestones, including hitting his first home run as a Dodger on April 3 against the San Francisco Giants, matching the anniversary of his first Major League home run, and surpassing Hideki Matsui on April 21 for the most home runs by a Japanese player in MLB history. In the All-Star Game, he hit a three-run home run, marking a unique achievement as the first and only All-Star player with a win on the mound and a home run at the plate. He also hit his 200th career home run on July 13th
2024: Ohtani Receives $2 Million per Season from 2024
Shohei Ohtani will receive $2 million per season from 2024 to 2033 under his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
May 2025: Tying Dodgers Record
In May 2025, Shohei Ohtani tied the Dodgers record for home runs in a month with 15. In that same game against the Yankees, Ohtani and Aaron Judge became the first reigning MVPs ever to each hit a home run in the first inning of the same game. Ohtani was named the NL Player of the Month in May 2025, after slashing .309/.398/.782, with 15 home runs on the month.
2025: Ohtani's Estimated Endorsements Rise
By 2025, Shohei Ohtani's estimated endorsements had risen to $100 million for the year. He is a brand ambassador of 20 companies, including New Balance, Fanatics/Topps, Hugo Boss, Kosé, Porsche Japan, Kowa, Mitsubishi Bank, Japan Airlines, Salesforce, Nishikawa Co., and Seiko.
2025: Postseason Performance and NLCS MVP
In 2025, Shohei Ohtani had a stellar postseason, including hitting two home runs in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds. He made his first career postseason start in the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, earning the win. In Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani struck out 10 batters and hit three home runs, becoming the first pitcher in history to do so, leading to him being named the 2025 NLCS MVP.
2025: Franchise Record and NL MVP
In 2025, Shohei Ohtani returned to pitching and set a Dodgers franchise record with 55 home runs in a season, winning his second consecutive National League (NL) MVP unanimously and becoming the only player to win multiple MVP awards in each league and won the 2025 World Series.
2025: 2025 Season Performance
In the 2025 season, Ohtani batted .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. He led the National League in runs scored, total bases, extra-base hits, and OPS. He set a record by being the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs, draw 100 walks, and steal 20 bases in one season. As a pitcher, he had a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings.
2026: 2026 World Baseball Classic
In 2026, Ohtani played for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic as the designated hitter. In the opening game against Chinese Taipei, he set a record for the most RBIs (5) in a single inning in WBC history. His performance helped Japan secure an undefeated record in Pool C and advance to the quarterfinals.
2033: Ohtani Receives $2 Million per Season until 2033
Shohei Ohtani will receive $2 million per season from 2024 to 2033 under his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2034: Deferred Payments Begin in 2034
Deferred payments from Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to begin in 2034.
2043: Deferred Payments End in 2043
Deferred payments from Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to end in 2043.
March 18: Dodgers Debut in Tokyo
On March 18, 2025, Ohtani started his second year with the Dodgers as the designated hitter against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, as part of the MLB Tokyo Series 2025, batting 2–for–5 with a double in his first game playing in Japan as a Major Leaguer.
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