History of Shohei Ohtani in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

Shohei Ohtani is a generational Japanese professional baseball player currently playing as a designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Often compared to Babe Ruth for his unprecedented ability to excel at an elite level as both a hitter and a pitcher, Ohtani has fundamentally redefined modern baseball expectations. A two-time American League Most Valuable Player and a multiple-time All-Star, he became the first player in MLB history to achieve a 50-home run, 50-stolen base season. Known for his powerful swing, impressive pitching velocity, and unmatched versatility, Ohtani is widely considered one of the greatest talents in the history of the sport. His global influence has significantly expanded the international reach and popularity of Major League Baseball.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1918: Babe Ruth's Dual-Threat Achievement

During the 1918 Major League Baseball season, Babe Ruth achieved a historic milestone by winning 13 games as a pitcher and hitting 11 home runs for the Boston Red Sox, setting a benchmark for two-way player performance that would not be matched in professional baseball until Shohei Ohtani's accomplishment.

1950: Historical Comparison to Junzo Sekine and Osamu Takechi

In 1950, Junzo Sekine became the first rookie pitcher to bat in the heart of the order, while Osamu Takechi became the first player to start as a pitcher and record a hit and an RBI from the heart of the lineup, both serving as historical benchmarks for Ohtani in 2013.

1951: Historical Comparison to Kikuo Tokunaga

In 1951, Kikuo Tokunaga became the first Nippon Pro Baseball rookie drafted out of high school to be utilized as both a pitcher and a position player, a feat Ohtani would match in 2013.

1963: Historical Comparison to Takao Kajimoto

In 1963, Takao Kajimoto became the last NPB pitcher prior to Ohtani to bat in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th spots in the lineup.

1967: Toshiaki Moriyasu's shutout achievement

In 1967, Toshiaki Moriyasu achieved the milestone of pitching a 1–0 shutout victory for the Fighters within his first two years out of high school, a feat that would later be matched by Shohei Ohtani in the modern era.

July 5, 1994: Birth of Shohei Ohtani

On July 5, 1994, Shohei Ohtani, the future professional baseball star recognized for his exceptional two-way abilities as both a pitcher and designated hitter, was born in Japan.

Others born on this day/year

2001: Daisuke Matsuzaka's Salary Milestone

In 2001, Daisuke Matsuzaka achieved the milestone of becoming the first player out of high school in NPB history to reach a salary of 100 million yen within his third year of professional play.

2010: Yoshinori Sato Sets Previous Pitching Record

In 2010, Yoshinori Sato of the Yakult Swallows set a record for the fastest official pitch thrown by a Japanese pitcher, clocking in at 100 mph (161 km/h), a record that stood until 2014.

October 21, 2012: Ohtani Announces Intent to Pursue MLB Career

On October 21, 2012, Shohei Ohtani publicly announced his decision to bypass a professional career in Japan immediately following high school in order to pursue an opportunity in Major League Baseball (MLB).

2012: Record-breaking Fastball and 18U World Championship Performance

In 2012, 18-year-old Shohei Ohtani set a Japanese high school baseball record by throwing a 99 mph fastball during the Summer Koshien tournament. Additionally, during the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship, he recorded 16 strikeouts over 10 1/3 innings with a 4.35 ERA.

2012: Selected in the NPB Draft

In 2012, Shohei Ohtani was selected as the first overall pick by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the NPB draft, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career.

March 29, 2013: Professional Debut with Nippon-Ham Fighters

On March 29, 2013, Shohei Ohtani officially made his professional debut as a right fielder during the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters' season-opening game.

2013: Beginning of NPB Career

Starting in 2013, Ohtani began his professional tenure with the Fighters, where he established himself as a unique two-way player performing as both a pitcher and an outfielder.

July 2014: Ohtani Sets Pitching Record at All-Star Game

In July 2014, Shohei Ohtani set a record for the fastest official pitch by a Japanese pitcher by throwing a 101 mph fastball during the All-Star Game. Additionally, the jersey he wore during this event was sold at a charity auction for 1.75 million yen to support Tohoku earthquake children's relief funds.

2015: Dominant Performance at the 2015 Premier 12

During the 2015 Premier 12 tournament, Shohei Ohtani established himself as a dominant force for Samurai Japan. Throughout 2015, he achieved the highest strikeout total of the tournament, led the event in ERA, and held opposing hitters to the lowest batting average as a starting pitcher. Despite a heartbreaking semifinal loss to South Korea, Ohtani was honored as the All-Star starting pitcher for the competition.

2015: Shohei Ohtani's 2015 Professional Season

During the 2015 season, Shohei Ohtani showcased elite pitching prowess despite a slight dip in offensive production. Highlights of his 2015 campaign included earning the starting role in the NPB All-Star Game and securing a spot on the Pacific League Best Nine awards for his pitching performance.

2015: 2015 Pacific League MVP and Sawamura Award Consideration

During the 2015 season, Shohei Ohtani showcased his versatility as a designated hitter and pitcher, hitting .202/.252/.376 with five home runs. In 2015, he finished third in the Pacific League MVP voting behind Yuki Yanagita and Shogo Akiyama, and he was also named a finalist for the 2015 Sawamura Award, ranking as the top pitcher among the candidates.

2016: Shohei Ohtani's Dominant 2016 Two-Way Season

During the 2016 season, Shohei Ohtani established himself as an elite two-way player by recording 22 home runs and a .322 batting average while also achieving a career-low 1.86 ERA as a pitcher. His outstanding performance earned him the Best Nine awards as both a designated hitter and a pitcher, as well as the Pacific League MVP title. Additionally, in 2016, he set a new NPB record by hitting 102.5 mph on the radar gun.

2016: Winning the Japan Series

In 2016, Shohei Ohtani achieved a major team milestone by winning the Japan Series title while playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

2017: MLB Posting and Departure from NPB

After the conclusion of the 2017 season, the Fighters posted Ohtani to Major League Baseball, leading to his subsequent signing with the Los Angeles Angels.

2018: AL Rookie of the Year Award

Following his transition to the MLB in 2018, Ohtani was recognized for his impressive debut performance by winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

2018: Surpassing the High School Pitching Record

In 2018, Rōki Sasaki surpassed the Japanese high school baseball record previously held by Shohei Ohtani by throwing a 101 mph fastball.

2019: Injury-Plagued Season

The 2019 season proved to be a challenging period for Ohtani as he dealt with various injuries that hindered his performance on the field.

2020: Continued Injury Struggles

Ohtani faced continued difficulties throughout the 2020 season, marking a second consecutive year of being hampered by physical injuries.

2021: First AL MVP and Historical Achievement

In 2021, Ohtani delivered an unprecedented season, hitting 46 home runs and striking out 156 batters, which earned him his first American League Most Valuable Player Award and the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award.

2021: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

2022: Leaderboard Qualification Milestone

During the 2022 season, Ohtani became the first player in the modern era to qualify for both the hitting and pitching leaderboards in the same year, while also recording 219 strikeouts.

2023: World Baseball Classic Championship and MVP

In 2023, Shohei Ohtani led Team Japan to their third World Baseball Classic title. As the tournament's Most Valuable Player, Ohtani played a decisive role in the 3-2 victory over the United States, which concluded with him striking out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout in a highly-publicized final at-bat.

2023: Second Unanimous AL MVP and Dodgers Contract

In 2023, Shohei Ohtani won his second unanimous AL MVP award after leading the league in home runs and performing as a top-tier pitcher. Following the season, he signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2023: Top Jersey Sales Globally

Starting in 2023, Shohei Ohtani began selling more jerseys worldwide than any other player in professional baseball.

2024: Historic 50/50 Season and World Series Win

During the 2024 season, Ohtani played exclusively as a designated hitter due to injury recovery. He made history by becoming the first MLB player to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, earned a unanimous NL MVP award, and secured his first World Series championship.

2025: Consecutive NL MVP and Back-to-Back Championships

In 2025, Ohtani returned to the mound and set a Dodgers franchise record with 55 home runs. He won his second consecutive unanimous NL MVP, became the first player to win multiple MVPs in each league, earned the 2025 NLCS MVP, and won his second consecutive World Series title.

2025: Forbes Highest-Paid Athlete List

Shohei Ohtani was included on the Forbes list of the world's ten highest-paid athletes during the year 2025.

2026: Continued Global Influence and High Earnings

In 2026, Ohtani maintained his status as a top earner on the Forbes list and was once again named one of Time's 100 most influential figures in the world of sports.