Challenges Faced by Shohei Ohtani: Obstacles and Turning Points
Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Shohei Ohtani. A timeline of obstacles and growth.
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.
2016: Ankle injury during Japan Series
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani originally injured his ankle during the Japan Series.
2017: Withdrawal from World Baseball Classic
In 2017, Shohei Ohtani was selected for the Japan National Baseball Team for the World Baseball Classic but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury. This injury prevented him from participating in the tournament.
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.
2019: Injury Plagued Season
In 2019, Ohtani experienced an injury-plagued season.
2020: Continued Injury Issues
In 2020, Ohtani continued to face injury challenges.
November 2022: FTX Bankruptcy
In November 2022, FTX filed for bankruptcy, wiping out billions of dollars in customer funds. This event led to legal challenges for Ohtani due to his prior association with the company.
April 2023: Dismissal Request from FTX Lawsuit
In April 2023, Shohei Ohtani's lawyers filed for his dismissal from the FTX lawsuit, where he was accused of promoting unregistered securities.
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.
September 19, 2023: Ohtani undergoes elbow surgery
On September 19, 2023, Ohtani received elbow surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache to address the UCL tear in his right elbow.
March 2024: Gambling Scandal Investigation
In March 2024, an ESPN investigation revealed $4.5 million in wire payments from Shohei Ohtani's bank account to a Southern California bookmaking operation. His interpreter Ippei Mizuhara initially claimed he used the money to repay gambling debts, but Ohtani's lawyers later stated he was the victim of theft. Mizuhara was subsequently fired, and Will Ireton took over as Ohtani's interpreter. Ohtani publicly denied any involvement in sports betting.
May 9, 2024: Scripted Series Announcement
On May 9, 2024, Lionsgate Television announced the development of a scripted series based on the interpreter gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani, highlighting the significant impact of the controversy.
2024: Ohtani will not pitch in the 2024 season
Due to his elbow injury, Ohtani will not pitch in the 2024 season. This was announced after he suffered a ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow on August 23, 2023.
