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 pitcher and designated hitter currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB. He previously played for the Los Angeles Angels and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in NPB. Ohtani is renowned as a rare two-way player, excelling as both a hitter and pitcher. His exceptional performance has led many to consider his prime seasons among the greatest in baseball history, drawing comparisons to Babe Ruth's early career.
1998: Jose Canseco joins 45/25 club
In 1998, Jose Canseco joined the 45 homers and 25 stolen bases club.
2000: Troy Glaus home run record
In 2000, Troy Glaus set the Angels record of 47 home runs in a single season.
2004: Ohtani compared to Cy Young winner Johan Santana
In June 2004, Johan Santana was one of the pitchers that was compared to Ohtani. Ohtani became the fourth pitcher all-time to go 6–0 with 58+ SO and 2-or-fewer ER in a six-game span, joining Cy Young winners Johan Santana (2004), R.A. Dickey (2012) and Clayton Kershaw (2014).
2006: Tadahito Iguchi's seven-RBI game
In 2006, Tadahito Iguchi had a seven-RBI game, which was surpassed by Ohtani on June 21, 2022. On June 21, 2022 Ohtani had eight RBIs. It was also the most RBIs in a game by a Japanese-born player, surpassing seven-RBI games from Tadahito Iguchi in 2006.
August 21, 2007: Garret Anderson's 10-RBI Game
On August 21, 2007, Garret Anderson had a franchise-record 10 RBIs against the New York Yankees. This was referenced when Ohtani set a career-high with eight RBIs on June 21, 2022, becoming the first player born in Japan to have eight RBI in a game.
2009: Matsui's seven-RBI game
In 2009, Matsui had a seven-RBI game, which was surpassed by Ohtani on June 21, 2022. On June 21, 2022 Ohtani had eight RBIs. It was also the most RBIs in a game by a Japanese-born player, surpassing seven-RBI games from Matsui in 2009.
October 21, 2012: Announced MLB Pursuit
On October 21, 2012, Shohei Ohtani announced that he would pursue a career in Major League Baseball rather than turn professional in Japan, but later signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
2012: Ohtani compared to Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey
In 2012, R.A. Dickey was one of the pitchers that was compared to Ohtani. Ohtani became the fourth pitcher all-time to go 6–0 with 58+ SO and 2-or-fewer ER in a six-game span, joining Cy Young winners Johan Santana (2004), R.A. Dickey (2012) and Clayton Kershaw (2014).
2012: Selection to Japan's Under-18 National Team
In 2012, Shohei Ohtani was selected to Japan's Under-18 National Team, which participated in the U-18 Baseball World Cup in Seoul, ultimately finishing in sixth place. This marked an early milestone in Ohtani's international baseball career.
2012: First Pick in NPB Draft
In 2012, Shohei Ohtani was the first pick of the Fighters in the 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, Ohtani threw a 99 mph fastball, setting a Japanese high school baseball record at the time.
March 29, 2013: Fighters Debut
On March 29, 2013, Shohei Ohtani made his debut at age 18 in the Fighters' season-opening game, playing as a right fielder.
2013: First Season Stats
During the 2013 season, Ohtani finished with a 3-0 record, a 4.23 ERA, and hit .238 in 204 plate appearances. He tied for 5th in the Pacific League with 8 hit batsmen and received 4 votes for Rookie of the Year.
2013: Played for the Fighters
In 2013, Shohei Ohtani began playing for the Fighters as a pitcher and an outfielder.
July 2014: Fastest Pitch by Japanese Pitcher
During the July 2014 Mazda All-Star Game, Shohei Ohtani threw a 101 mph fastball, setting a new record for the fastest official pitch thrown by a Japanese pitcher.
2014: Ohtani compared to Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw
In 2014, Clayton Kershaw was one of the pitchers that was compared to Ohtani. Ohtani became the fourth pitcher all-time to go 6–0 with 58+ SO and 2-or-fewer ER in a six-game span, joining Cy Young winners Johan Santana (2004), R.A. Dickey (2012) and Clayton Kershaw (2014).
2014: Garrett Richards records 110 strikeouts in the first half
In 2014, Garrett Richards recorded 110 strikeouts in the first half, this milestone was relevant to Ohtani's achievements on July 6, 2022. On July 6, 2022, Ohtani's 111 strikeouts over 81 innings pitched in the game made him the first Angels pitcher to record 110 K's in the first half in fewer than 100 innings and the first Angels pitcher to 110 K's in the first half since Garrett Richards in 2014.
2015: WBSC Premier12 Tournament
In 2015, Shohei Ohtani earned a bronze medal with the Japanese national team in the inaugural WBSC Premier12 tournament. He was the ace of Japan's pitching staff. Ohtani made two pitching appearances against South Korea, winning Game 1 of the opening round and getting a no-decision in the semifinals.
2015: All-Star and Best Nine Selection
In 2015, Shohei Ohtani's performance earned him the starter role in the All-Star Game and the pitching spot in the Pacific League Best Nine awards. He finished the season with a 15-5 record and a 2.24 ERA, leading the PL in ERA.
2015: Premier 12 Dominance
In the 2015 Premier 12, Shohei Ohtani was dominant for the Japanese national team, named the All-Star SP for the event.
2016: Bryce Harper draws 11 walks
In 2016, Bryce Harper set MLB record by drawing 11 walks.
2016: Dominant Season and MVP Award
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani hit 22 home runs and had a career-low ERA of 1.86. He won the Best Nine award as both a designated hitter and a pitcher, and was named the Pacific League MVP.
2016: Won Japan Series
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani won the Japan Series with the Fighters.
November 21, 2017: MLB and NPB posting agreement
On November 21, 2017, MLB and NPB reached a posting agreement that would allow Shohei Ohtani to play in Major League Baseball.
December 9, 2017: Signs with the Los Angeles Angels
On December 9, 2017, Shohei Ohtani officially signed a deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
2017: Posted to MLB
After the 2017 season, the Fighters posted Shohei Ohtani to MLB.
2017: Representation by Nez Balelo
In 2017, Shohei Ohtani began to be represented by agent Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, shortly after announcing his plans to pursue an MLB career.
2018: Disastrous MLB Spring Training
In 2018, Shohei Ohtani had a rough MLB spring training, leading to doubts from American news sources about his two-way abilities, but he proved them wrong by the end of the season.
2018: Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia
In 2018, Shohei Ohtani was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia in the field of Entertainment & Sports, recognizing his influence and achievements at a young age.
2018: AL Rookie of the Year Award
In 2018, Shohei Ohtani won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award after signing with the Angels.
2018: Angels implemented "Ohtani Rules"
Starting in the 2018 rookie season, the Angels implemented the "Ohtani Rules" that restricted Shohei Ohtani's usage to a schedule of pitching once a week and hitting only three to four times between starts.
May 7, 2019: Returns to play after surgery
On May 7, 2019, Shohei Ohtani returned to play for the Angels after undergoing Tommy John surgery, batting as a designated hitter against the Detroit Tigers.
2020: Mookie Betts' arbitration record
In 2020, Mookie Betts received $27 million, setting a record for a player in his third year of arbitration. On October 1, 2022, Ohtani surpassed Betts' record with a $30 million deal for the 2023 season.
2020: First automatic player on second base
In 2020, on July 24, Shohei Ohtani was the first automatic player on second base in an official MLB game due to new season rules but was thrown out in a rundown.
November 16, 2021: FTX Global Ambassador
On November 16, 2021, Shohei Ohtani joined cryptocurrency exchange FTX as a global ambassador, partnering on animal charitable initiatives.
2021: Ohtani sets previous single-season high in strikeouts
In 2021, Ohtani set his previous single-season high in strikeouts. On August 9, 2022, Ohtani's five strikeouts in the game brought him to 157 on the season, a new single-season high eclipsing his 2021 total of 156.
2021: AL MVP Award
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani hit 46 home runs and struck out 156 batters, winning his first AL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) and receiving the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award.
2021: Recognition by Time 100 and MLB
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani was named to Time 100's list of most influential people and awarded the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award by Commissioner Rob Manfred, highlighting his significant impact on baseball and beyond.
2021: Ohtani wins AL MVP
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player, making him the 23rd pitcher and first designated hitter to win the award.
2021: MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were an MLB league-leading $6 million, marking his first year leading the league in endorsements.
2021: Breaks home run record for Japanese-born player
In 2021, on July 7, Shohei Ohtani hit his 32nd home run of the year, surpassing Hideki Matsui's mark in 2004 for the most home runs hit during a season by a Japanese-born player in MLB.
2021: Elite Baserunning Skills
In the 2021 season, Shohei Ohtani demonstrated elite baserunning skills, with a sprint speed that ranked in the 92nd percentile of all players. He recorded a career-high 26 stolen bases and showcased exceptional speed, with a sprint speed of 28.8 feet per second.
2021: Ohtani had 33 homers in 2021
Ohtani would enter the 2023 All-Star Game with 30+ homers for the second time in his career, having hit 33 previously in 2021.
2021: Ohtani's salary for the 2021 season
Ohtani's salary for the 2021 season was $3 million. On October 1, 2022, Ohtani signed a one-year deal worth $30 million for the 2023 season, a significant raise from his 2021 salary.
2021: Ohtani's season recognized with Guinness World Records
Shohei Ohtani's 2021 season was recognized with two Guinness World Records titles and the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award.
March 22, 2022: "Ohtani rule" introduced
On March 22, 2022, Major League Baseball introduced a new rule that allows for a pitcher in the batting order to remain in the game as a designated hitter after they are pulled from the pitching mound, colloquially dubbed the "Ohtani rule".
July 6, 2022: Ohtani makes MLB history against the Miami Marlins
On July 6, 2022, Ohtani made MLB history. He became 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: Ohtani Completes Three Historical Feats Against the Oakland Athletics
On August 9, 2022, Ohtani completed three historical feats. Ohtani 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.
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.
2022: MLB The Show Cover Athlete
In 2022, Shohei Ohtani was the first Asian player to be a cover athlete of MLB The Show.
2022: MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings
In 2022, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were an MLB league-leading $20 million, tripling from his MLB league-leading $6 million endorsement earnings in 2021.
2022: Ohtani makes MLB history with eight RBIs and striking out 10 batters the next day
In a two-game span from June 21–22, 2022, Ohtani made MLB history. Ohtani became 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.
2022: Ohtani participated only as a hitter in the All-Star Game
Like 2022, Ohtani opted to participate only as a hitter in the 2023 All-Star Game and not pitch due to a blister.
2022: Ohtani finishes the 2022 season with impressive stats
Ohtani finished his 2022 season 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.
2022: Ohtani's salary for the 2022 season
Ohtani's salary for the 2022 season was $5.5 million. On October 1, 2022, Ohtani signed a one-year deal worth $30 million for the 2023 season, a $24.5 million raise from his 2022 salary.
March 2023: MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings
As of March 2023, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were estimated to be an MLB league-leading $35–40 million for the year. Ohtani had a group of partnerships that included New Balance, Fanatics, Topps, and Panini in the U.S. and Hugo Boss, Kosé, Porsche Japan, Kowa, Mitsubishi Bank, Japan Airlines, Salesforce, Nishikawa Co., and Seiko Watch in Japan.
June 15, 2023: Ohtani named AL Player of the Week and wins against the Texas Rangers
On June 15, 2023, Ohtani was named AL Player of the Week. He picked up a win as starting pitcher on June 15, 2023, against the Texas Rangers.
July 2, 2023: Ohtani wins sixth career AL Player of the Week award
On July 2, 2023, Ohtani won his sixth career AL Player of the Week award, surpassing Suzuki for the most by a Japanese-born player. Over a seven-day span from June 26 to July 2, 2023, he hit six home runs with a 1.783 OPS.
September 2023: Ohtani has elbow surgery
Because of his elbow injury and consequent surgery in September 2023, Ohtani and the Dodgers announced that he would not pitch in the 2024 season.
December 11, 2023: Ohtani signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers
On December 11, 2023, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest contract in professional sports history at the time.
2023: Ohtani wins American League Most Valuable Player award
For the second time in his career, Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player in 2023, becoming the first player in MLB history to win MVP by unanimous vote twice.
2023: Ohtani earns All-Star roster spot and is elected as an All-Star pitcher
In 2023, Ohtani earned an automatic spot on the All-Star roster after being the leading vote-getter in the American League All-Star ballot during Phase 1 of fan voting. He was also elected as an All-Star pitcher for the American League.
2023: Ohtani named MVP of the 2023 World Baseball Classic and makes Opening Day start
In 2023, Ohtani was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He also made his second straight Opening Day start for the Angels' while batting third in the lineup against the Athletics on March 30.
2023: New Endorsement Deals
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani added new endorsement deals with New Balance and Japanese cosmetics company Kosé, further enhancing his commercial appeal.
2023: World Baseball Classic MVP and Championship
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani played for the Japan National Baseball Team in the World Baseball Classic. He was named the Pool B MVP. He also earned the save in the championship game after pitching the final inning of Japan's win over the US, striking out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout. He won the tournament's MVP award.
2023: Second AL MVP Award
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani won his second AL MVP, leading the AL with 44 home runs and recording 10 wins as a pitcher. He also became the first Japanese-born player to win a league home run title.
2023: World Baseball Classic MVP
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani won the MVP Award for the World Baseball Classic after Japan's victory over the United States.
2023: All-WBC Team Selection at Two Positions
In 2023, after helping Team Japan win the World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani became the only player to be named to the All-WBC team at two separate positions, as both a designated hitter and a pitcher. This recognition highlights his exceptional versatility and performance in the tournament.
2023: Ohtani finishes the 2023 regular season
Ohtani ended the 2023 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: Ohtani signs a one-year deal with the Angels
On October 1, Ohtani signed a one-year deal worth $30 million for the 2023 season. The $30 million deal set a new record for a player in his third year of arbitration.
2024: Dodgers Contract
After the 2023 season, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. In 2024, he played as a DH for the Dodgers while recovering from an elbow injury. Ohtani also became the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, and won the World Series.
2024: Ohtani to debut as designated hitter for Dodgers in 2024
Because of his elbow injury and consequent surgery in September 2023, Ohtani and the Dodgers announced that he would not pitch in the 2024 season. Ohtani debuted with the Dodgers as the designated hitter on March 20 against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, as part of the MLB Seoul Series.
2024: National League MVP Award
In 2024, Shohei Ohtani unanimously won the National League Most Valuable Player award after his outstanding performance. This was his third career unanimous MVP award, marking his second consecutive win and his first in the National League. This achievement made him the first MLB player to win three MVP awards unanimously, two consecutive unanimous MVP awards, and unanimous MVP awards in both the American and National Leagues. He also became the second player, after Frank Robinson, to win MVP awards in both leagues.
2024: AP Male Athlete of the Year Award
In 2024, Shohei Ohtani won his third AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for the second-most wins in the award's history. This recognition celebrates Ohtani's exceptional athletic achievements throughout the year.
2034: Deferred payments start in Ohtani's contract
Ohtani's wages were structured so that $68 million per season was deferred until after the deal's conclusion, to be paid out from 2034 to 2043.
2043: Deferred payments end in Ohtani's contract
Ohtani's wages were structured so that $68 million per season was deferred until after the deal's conclusion, to be paid out from 2034 to 2043.
