History of Shohei Ohtani in Timeline

Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, renowned as a two-way player excelling as both a designated hitter and pitcher. Nicknamed "Shotime," he previously played for the Los Angeles Angels and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan. Ohtani's exceptional performance in both hitting and pitching has led to comparisons with Babe Ruth and has established his prime seasons as some of the greatest in baseball history. He is considered a unique and impactful player in modern baseball.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1906: Frank Isbell's Extra-Base Hits Record

In 1906, Frank Isbell recorded four extra-base hits in four at-bats in a World Series game.

1913: Earned Runs Become Official

Earned runs were official in 1913.

1918: Babe Ruth's 10+ Win and Home Run Season

In 1918, Babe Ruth won 13 games and hit 11 home runs for the Boston Red Sox during the Major League Baseball season.

1920: RBI Becomes an Official Statistic

In 1920, the Run Batted In (RBI) became an official statistic in baseball.

1922: Max Carey's Reaching Base Record

In 1922, Max Carey tied the all-time MLB record by reaching base nine times in a game.

1930: Babe Ruth's Walk Record

In 1930, Babe Ruth set an AL/NL record for walks in a 4-game span, a record that Shohei Ohtani tied in September 2021.

1932: Johnny Burnett's Reaching Base Record

In 1932, Johnny Burnett tied the all-time MLB record by reaching base nine times in a game.

1942: Stan Hack's Reaching Base Record

In 1942, Stan Hack tied the all-time MLB record by reaching base nine times in a game.

1950: Rookie Hurler Batting 3rd, 4th, or 5th

In 1950, Junzo Sekine was the first rookie hurler to bat 3rd, 4th, or 5th.

1951: Gil Hodges' Homer Season

Gil Hodges had 2 seasons from 1951 and 1954 where he hit at least 40 home runs.

1951: Rookie Two-Way Player

In 1951, Kikuo Tokunaga was the first Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB) rookie drafted out of high school to be used as both a pitcher and position player.

1953: Duke Snider's Homer Season

Duke Snider had 5 seasons from 1953 to 1957 where he hit at least 40 home runs.

1954: Gil Hodges' Homer Season

Gil Hodges had 2 seasons from 1951 and 1954 where he hit at least 40 home runs.

1957: Duke Snider's Homer Season

Duke Snider had 5 seasons from 1953 to 1957 where he hit at least 40 home runs.

1963: Pitcher Batting 3rd, 4th, or 5th

In 1963, Takao Kajimoto was the first NPB pitcher since to bat 3rd, 4th, or 5th.

1967: Moriyasu's Shutout Victory

In 1967, Toshiaki Moriyasu recorded a 1-0 shutout victory within his first two years for the Fighters, being the first pitcher out of high school to achieve this.

April 26, 1970: Luis Tiant's Game

On April 26, 1970, Luis Tiant, playing for the Minnesota Twins, was the last pitcher to throw a scoreless top half and record a hit, an RBI, a stolen base, and a scored run while playing in an AL ballpark, a feat Ohtani replicated on July 26, 2021.

1973: Inception of the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award

In 1973, the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award was established.

1975: Morgan's MVP and World Series win

In 1975-1976 Joe Morgan won an MVP Award and the World Series in back-to-back seasons.

1982: Reggie Jackson's Record

In 1982, Reggie Jackson set a record for left-handed batters in Angels history, reaching 39 home runs, before Shohei Ohtani surpassed it with 40 in August 2021.

July 5, 1994: Shohei Ohtani's Birth

On July 5, 1994, Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese professional baseball player celebrated for his exceptional two-way abilities as a designated hitter and pitcher, was born.

Others born on this day/year

1998: Jose Canseco's Accomplishment

In 1998, Jose Canseco recorded at least 45 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season, joining Shohei Ohtani who hit the same milestones in 2021.

1999: Ken Griffey Jr.'s Accomplishment

In 1999, Ken Griffey Jr. was an AL player that accomplished the feat of 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases before September, something Ohtani mirrored in August 2021.

2000: Troy Glaus' Home Run Record

In 2000, Troy Glaus set a single-season home run record in Angels history with 47 home runs, a record that Shohei Ohtani nearly matched in 2021 with 46 home runs.

2001: Barry Bonds' MVP streak

From 2001-2004 Barry Bonds won MVP in at least three consecutive seasons.

2001: Matsuzaka's Salary Milestone

In 2001, Daisuke Matsuzaka became the first player out of high school in NPB history to reach 100M yen in salary in his third year. In December, Ohtani became the second to achieve this milestone.

2001: Shawn Green's Homer Season

Shawn Green had 2 seasons from 2001 to 2002 where he hit at least 40 home runs.

2002: Shawn Green's Homer Season

Shawn Green had 2 seasons from 2001 to 2002 where he hit at least 40 home runs.

2003: Matsui's World Series Home Run

In 2003, Hideki Matsui hit a home run in the World Series, one of only two Japanese-born players to do so.

2004: Hideki Matsui's Home Run Record

In 2004, Hideki Matsui set the record for the most home runs hit during a season by a Japanese-born player in MLB, a record that stood until Shohei Ohtani surpassed it in 2021.

2004: Johan Santana's Cy Young Season

In 2004, Johan Santana had a Cy Young-winning season, going 6-0 with 58+ strikeouts and allowing 2 or fewer earned runs in a six-game span.

2006: Alfonso Soriano's 40-40 Club Record

In 2006, Alfonso Soriano set a record for joining the 40-40 club in 147 games. Shohei Ohtani would later beat this record.

2006: Tadahito Iguchi's 7-RBI Game

In 2006, Tadahito Iguchi had a 7-RBI game.

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.

2007: Alex Rodriguez's Accomplishment

In 2007, Alex Rodriguez was an AL player that accomplished the feat of 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases before September, something Ohtani mirrored in August 2021.

2009: Matsui's 7-RBI Game

In 2009, Matsui had a 7-RBI game.

2010: Previous Pitch Record

In 2010, Yoshinori Sato of the Yakult Swallows set a record for the fastest official pitch thrown by a Japanese pitcher at 100 mph, before Shohei Ohtani broke it in July 2014.

2011: Curtis Granderson's Feat

In 2011, Curtis Granderson was the last AL player before Shohei Ohtani in August 2021 to reach 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season.

2011: Jered Weaver's ERA

In 2011, Jered Weaver had the lowest home ERA by an Angels starter, a record Ohtani matched in 2021 with a 1.95 ERA in 13 starts.

September 2012: Chase Headley's Player of the Month Awards

In September 2012, Chase Headley was the last player before Shohei Ohtani in July 2021 to win back-to-back Player of the Month Awards in either league.

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) rather than turn professional in Japan.

2012: Ohtani plays in U-18 Baseball World Cup

In 2012, Ohtani was selected to Japan's national under-18 team, which finished sixth at the U-18 Baseball World Cup in Seoul.

2012: R.A. Dickey's Cy Young Season

In 2012, R.A. Dickey had a Cy Young-winning season, going 6-0 with 58+ strikeouts and allowing 2 or fewer earned runs in a six-game span.

2012: First Pick in NPB Draft

In 2012, Shohei Ohtani was the first pick of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the NPB draft, recognized early on as an elite two-way player.

2012: 99 mph Fastball

In 2012, as an 18-year-old high school pitcher, Shohei 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: Joins the Fighters

In 2013, Shohei Ohtani began playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters as both a pitcher and an outfielder.

2013: Start of Relationship with Ippei Mizuhara

In 2013, Shohei Ohtani first met Ippei Mizuhara, who would become his personal interpreter with the Angels and Dodgers. Their relationship started during Ohtani's days with the Fighters.

July 2014: Fastest Pitch Record and Charity Auction

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. His jersey from the game sold for 1.75 million yen at a charity auction.

2014: Clayton Kershaw's Cy Young Season

In 2014, Clayton Kershaw had a Cy Young-winning season, going 6-0 with 58+ strikeouts and allowing 2 or fewer earned runs in a six-game span.

2014: Garrett Richards' Pitching Performance

In 2014, Garrett Richards recorded 110 K's in the first half of the season for the Angels.

2015: Ohtani in WBSC Premier12 Tournament

In 2015, Ohtani earned a bronze medal with Team Japan in the inaugural WBSC Premier12 tournament, being named to the Premier12 All-World Team and the World Baseball Softball Confederation Baseball Player of the Year.

2015: MVP Voting

In 2015, Shohei Ohtani finished third in MVP voting behind Yanagita and Shogo Akiyama for the Pacific League MVP.

2015: Dominance in Premier 12

In 2015, Shohei Ohtani was dominant for the Japanese national team in the 2015 Premier 12, named the All-Star SP for the event.

2015: 2015 Season Performance

In 2015, Shohei Ohtani's third professional season, his 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.

2015: Start of Statcast era

The beginning of the Statcast era in 2015.

2016: Bryce Harper's Walk Record

In 2016, Bryce Harper set an AL/NL record for walks in a 4-game span, a record that Shohei Ohtani tied in September 2021.

2016: Dominant Season and Pacific League MVP

In 2016, Shohei Ohtani had a dominant season, hitting 22 home runs and achieving a career-low ERA of 1.86 as a pitcher. He also won the Best Nine award as both a designated hitter and a pitcher, and won the Pacific League MVP.

2016: Japan Series

In 2016, Shohei Ohtani led Nippon Ham to the Japan Series. The team won their second Japan Series title. Teammate Brandon Laird won the Series MVP.

2016: Ankle Injury in Japan Series

In 2016, Shohei Ohtani suffered an ankle injury during the Japan Series. The injury later impacted his participation in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and restricted his playing time during the 2017 season.

2016: Pacific League MVP Award

In 2016, Shohei Ohtani won the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award with 253 of 254 first-place votes, totaling 1,268 vote points. He also made the Best Nine as both top pitcher and top DH in the PL, becoming the first player to achieve this dual recognition.

November 21, 2017: MLB and NPB Posting Agreement

On November 21, 2017, Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) reached an agreement to allow Shohei Ohtani to be posted, enabling him to play in MLB for the 2018 season.

December 9, 2017: Signs with 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 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters posted Shohei Ohtani to Major League Baseball (MLB).

2017: Ohtani withdraws from World Baseball Classic

In 2017, Ohtani was on Team Japan's roster for the World Baseball Classic but withdrew due to an ankle injury.

2017: CAA Sports Representation

In 2017, Shohei Ohtani has been represented by agent Nez Balelo of CAA Sports since shortly after announcing his plans to pursue an MLB career.

July 7, 2018: Last MLB Player with 10+ RBI in a single game

On July 7, 2018, the last time an MLB player reached 10 or more RBI in a single game before Ohtani did so.

September 2018: Last Pitching Appearance Before Injury

Shohei Ohtani made his last pitching appearance in September 2018 before an injury sidelined him.

2018: Trout's Intentional Walks

In 2018, Mike Trout led the American League in intentional walks, a feat that Shohei Ohtani replicated in 2021.

2018: Fastball Record Broken

In 2018, Rōki Sasaki surpassed Shohei Ohtani's 2012 record of a 99 mph fastball with a 101 mph fastball.

2018: AL Rookie of the Year Award

In 2018, Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels and won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award.

2018: Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia

In 2018, Shohei Ohtani was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia class in the field of Entertainment & Sports.

2018: MLB Spring Training Debut

In 2018, Shohei Ohtani's MLB spring training debut was met with disappointment from American news sources due to poor performance. However, by the end of the regular season, the media acknowledged they had underestimated him.

2018: Relaxation of Ohtani Rules

In the 2018 season and later, the Angels and Ohtani agreed to allow him to play without limitations or restrictions and drop the "Ohtani Rules".

2018: Planned MLB Debut

Shohei Ohtani was planning to play in the MLB in 2018.

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: Offseason Overhaul

After the results of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Ohtani spent the offseason overhauling himself and his training regimen.

2019: Injury-Plagued Season

In 2019, Shohei Ohtani had an injury-plagued season.

2019: Ohtani's Disappointment with 2019 Season

Shohei Ohtani expressed disappointment with his performance in the 2019 season, though not as much as he would in 2020.

2020: Offseason Overhaul

After the results of the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Ohtani spent the offseason overhauling himself and his training regimen.

2020: Mookie Betts' Arbitration Deal

In 2020, Mookie Betts received $27 million before the 2020 season.

2020: Another Injury Season

In 2020, Shohei Ohtani faced another season impacted by injuries.

2020: COVID-19 Impacted Season

In 2020, the MLB season was delayed until July 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 24, Ohtani was the first automatic player on second base in an official MLB game. He returned to pitching on July 26, but experienced arm discomfort, leading to a flexor strain diagnosis and his shutdown from pitching for the remainder of the season.

2020: Ohtani's Frustration with 2020 Season

Shohei Ohtani described feeling frustrated and useless after the 2020 season due to injuries that prevented him from performing as he desired, saying it was "more like pathetic" than his 2019 season.

May 2021: Ohtani's last time pitching without batting before 2026

In May 2021, Ohtani last pitched without batting before April 15 of the current year.

November 16, 2021: FTX Global Ambassador

On November 16, 2021, Shohei Ohtani joined cryptocurrency exchange FTX as a global ambassador, partnering on various animal charitable initiatives.

2021: Excellent Baserunner Skills

During the 2021 season, Shohei Ohtani demonstrated elite baserunner skills, with a sprint speed and feet-first sliding technique allowing him to have been a league leader in stolen bases, bunt hits and infield-hit rate. His 28.8 feet per second (19.6 mph) sprint speed ranked in the 92nd percentile of all players, as did his 3.51 second 80-foot split and he also recorded the fastest home to first average sprint time in the Majors at 4.09 seconds, while recording a then career-high 26 stolen bases.

2021: Ohtani's 33 Home Runs in 2021

In 2021, Ohtani hit 33 home runs.

2021: Ohtani's 2021 Salary

In 2021, Ohtani's salary was $3 million.

2021: Ohtani's Strikeout Record in 2021

In 2021, Ohtani's total strikeouts was 156.

2021: Ohtani's Historic 2021 Season

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani achieved two Guinness World Records, becoming the first MLB player with 100+ innings pitched, 100+ strikeouts as a pitcher, and 100+ RBIs, hits, and runs as a batter in a single season. He also became the first player to start the MLB All-Star Game as a pitcher and designated hitter. Commissioner Rob Manfred awarded him the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award, recognizing his unprecedented 2021 season. Ohtani declined Japan's People's Honor Award. The Sporting News ranked Ohtani's 2021 season as the greatest in sports history.

2021: AL MVP and Historic Achievement Award

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani hit 46 home runs, struck out 156 batters, and won his first AL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). He also received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award for his unprecedented two-way season.

2021: American League MVP and Other Awards

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 received many other awards, including being named to both First and Second All-MLB teams and winning the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.

2021: MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings

In 2021, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were an MLB league-leading $6 million.

2021: Yasmani Grandal's Walk Record

In 2021, Yasmani Grandal set an AL/NL record for walks in a 4-game span, a record that Shohei Ohtani tied in September 2021.

2021: Two-Year Contract with the Angels

On February 8, 2021, Shohei Ohtani agreed to a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, avoiding arbitration. On July 7, Ohtani surpassed Hideki Matsui's record for the most home runs hit by a Japanese-born player in MLB, hitting his 32nd home run of the year. Ohtani was selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher. He participated in the 2021 Home Run Derby on July 12.

March 22, 2022: MLB Introduces the "Ohtani Rule"

On March 22, 2022, Major League Baseball introduced the "Ohtani rule", allowing a pitcher to remain as a designated hitter after being pulled from the mound. The Angels named Ohtani the Opening Day starting pitcher, making him the first player in MLB history to start Opening Day as both pitcher and leadoff hitter.

July 6, 2022: Ohtani Makes MLB History Against the Marlins

On July 6, 2022, against the Miami Marlins, Shohei Ohtani made MLB history, 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: Ohtani Achieves Multiple Historical Feats Against Athletics

On August 9, 2022, in a game against the Oakland Athletics, Shohei Ohtani joined Babe Ruth in an exclusive 10-homer, 10-win club. He also moved up on the all-time home run list for Japanese-born players, surpassing Ichiro Suzuki, and set a single-season career high in strikeouts.

November 2022: FTX Bankruptcy Filing

In November 2022, FTX filed for bankruptcy, wiping out billions of dollars in customer funds.

2022: Ohtani's 2022 Salary

In 2022, Ohtani's salary was $5.5 million.

2022: 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: 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, which tripled from the previous year.

2022: Ohtani's Historic Two-Game Span

In a two-game span from June 21-22, 2022, Shohei Ohtani became the first player in AL or NL history to have at least eight RBIs in a game and strike out at least 10 batters the next day.

2022: Ohtani's Performance in 2022

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. Ohtani was named both the Los Angeles Angels Player and Pitcher of the Year and won a second straight Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. He was also runner-up for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

2022: Ohtani's All-Star Game Participation in 2022

Like in 2022, Ohtani opted to participate only as a hitter in the All-Star Game and not pitch due to a blister.

April 2023: Dismissal Request from FTX Lawsuit

In April 2023, Shohei Ohtani's lawyers filed for Ohtani's dismissal from the FTX lawsuit, in which he was sued for promoting unregistered securities.

June 15, 2023: Ohtani Wins AL Player of the Week

Shohei Ohtani was named AL Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career after a strong performance from June 12 to 18, 2023, including a win as starting pitcher on June 15, 2023, against the Texas Rangers. The honor tied him with Suzuki for the most by a Japanese-born player.

July 2, 2023: Ohtani Surpasses Suzuki for AL Player of the Week

Shohei Ohtani won his sixth career AL Player of the Week award on July 2, 2023, surpassing Suzuki for the most by a Japanese-born player. He also won his third career American League Player of the Month for June, with a performance considered to be the best June in MLB history.

August 2023: Ohtani's Last Pitching Appearance Before Injury

August 2023 was the last time Ohtani pitched before his injury and eventual return to the mound in June 2025.

September 2023: Ohtani's elbow surgery

In September 2023, Shohei Ohtani underwent elbow surgery, leading to the announcement with the Dodgers that he would not pitch in the 2024 season.

September 19, 2023: Ohtani Undergoes Elbow Surgery

On September 19, 2023, Shohei Ohtani underwent elbow surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache to address the UCL tear in his right elbow.

December 11, 2023: Ohtani Signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers

On December 11, 2023, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest contract in professional sports history at the time. The contract included deferred payments from 2034 to 2043, with Ohtani receiving $2 million per season from 2024 to 2033.

2023: Ohtani wins World Baseball Classic

In 2023, Ohtani played for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, earning the Pool B MVP and the tournament's MVP award after winning the championship game.

2023: Ohtani's Achievements in 2023 Season

In 2023, Shohei Ohtani batted .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. He became the first Japanese-born player to lead a U.S. major league in home runs, capturing the American League title with 44 home runs. Ohtani also led the league with a wins above replacement (WAR) value of 10.1.

2023: Ohtani Elected to 2023 All-Star Roster

In 2023, Shohei Ohtani earned an automatic spot on the 2023 All-Star roster as the leading vote-getter in the American League All-Star ballot and was elected as an All-Star pitcher for the American League. He opted to participate only as a hitter due to a blister.

2023: World Baseball Classic Championship

In 2023, Shohei Ohtani led Team Japan to their third World Baseball Classic championship and was named the tournament's MVP. He secured a 3–2 win against the United States by striking out Mike Trout.

2023: Ohtani Wins Second Unanimous MVP Award 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 also won several other awards and became a free agent after the 2023 season.

2023: Second AL MVP and Dodgers Contract

In 2023, Shohei Ohtani won his second unanimous AL MVP, leading the AL with 44 home runs while recording 10 wins as a pitcher. After the season, he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2023: MLB League-Leading Endorsement Earnings

In 2023, Shohei Ohtani's endorsement earnings were estimated to be an MLB league-leading $35–40 million.

2023: All-WBC Team Selection

In 2023, after helping Japan win the World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani was the first player named to the All-WBC team at two positions: designated hitter (DH) and pitcher.

2023: Ohtani Passes Babe Ruth on Strikeout List

In 2023, fresh off being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship, Shohei Ohtani made his second straight Opening Day start. On May 10, he passed Babe Ruth on the all-time strikeout list and set the record for most pitching strikeouts by a player with 100 home runs.

2023: Ohtani's $30 Million Deal

On October 1, 2023, the Angels signed Shohei Ohtani to a one-year deal worth $30 million for the 2023 season, setting a new record for a player in his third year of arbitration.

2023: Top Jersey Sales

Since 2023, Shohei Ohtani's jerseys have sold more than any other player in the U.S., Japan and worldwide.

February 2024: Marriage Announcement

In February 2024, Shohei Ohtani announced that he had married but declined to disclose his wife's identity except to say, "She's a normal Japanese woman".

March 2024: Gambling Scandal Investigation

In March 2024, an ESPN investigation uncovered $4.5 million in wire payments from Shohei Ohtani's bank account to a Southern California bookmaking operation under federal investigation. It was also found that, between January and March 2024, Ippei Mizuhara purchased approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online resellers such as eBay from Ohtani's bank account with the intent to resell them later for his own personal profit. On March 19, Mizuhara told ESPN that the money was for repaying his gambling debts. He said he had asked Ohtani for the money and that Ohtani himself transferred the funds to the bookie. Mizuhara also told this story to the Dodgers clubhouse after a game that day. However, as ESPN prepared to air the interview on the morning of March 20, Ohtani's law firm issued a statement reading, "We discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities." That afternoon, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara, who had signed a contract with the team when Ohtani joined. Will Ireton, who had served as an interpreter for Kenta Maeda, took over as Ohtani's interpreter. At a March 25 press conference, Ohtani made his first public statement about the incident, telling reporters that he had never bet on sports or had any knowledge of the debt until the team meeting on March 19.

May 9, 2024: Scripted Series Announced

On May 9, 2024, Lionsgate Television announced the development of a scripted series based on the interpreter gambling scandal.

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December 29, 2024: Pregnancy Announcement

On December 29, 2024, Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram that they were expecting their first child.

2024: Ohtani Wins National League MVP

After the 2024 season, Ohtani won the National League Most Valuable Player award unanimously, marking his third career unanimous MVP award, second consecutive unanimous MVP award, and his first in the National League.

2024: Ohtani's Salary from 2024-2033

From 2024 to 2033, Ohtani's salary will be $2 million per season.

2024: Ohtani's debut as designated hitter

In 2024, 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: NL MVP and World Series Win

In 2024, Shohei Ohtani, unable to pitch due to injury recovery, played only as a DH for the Dodgers. He was unanimously named the National League (NL) MVP after becoming the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season and won the 2024 World Series in his first MLB postseason appearance.

2024: Ohtani Will Not Pitch in 2024

It was revealed that Ohtani would not pitch for the rest of the 2023 season and the 2024 season after suffering a ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow.

February 2025: Mizuhara Sentencing and Ohtani Cleared

In February 2025, Ippei Mizuhara was sentenced to repay Shohei Ohtani $17 million along with a 57-month prison sentence. Previously, on June 4, 2024, following Mizuhara's guilty plea, Ohtani was officially cleared of any wrongdoing in the affair.

April 17, 2025: Return to Los Angeles

On April 17, 2025, Shohei Ohtani returned to Los Angeles during a Dodgers road trip in anticipation of the baby's arrival.

May 2025: Tied Dodgers record for home runs in a month

In May 2025, Ohtani tied the Dodgers record for home runs in a month with 15 and was named the NL Player of the Month.

2025: Estimated Endorsement Earnings

By 2025, Shohei Ohtani's estimated endorsements had risen to $100 million for the year.

2025: Ohtani in the Postseason

In 2025, Ohtani had multiple notable performances in the postseason, including two home runs in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series and setting MLB records in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, leading to him being named the 2025 NLCS MVP.

2025: Second Consecutive NL MVP and World Series Win

In 2025, Shohei Ohtani returned to pitching and set a Dodgers franchise record with 55 home runs, winning his second consecutive NL MVP unanimously. He was named the 2025 NLCS MVP en route to capturing back-to-back championships in the 2025 World Series.

2025: Fortnite Addition

In 2025, Shohei Ohtani's likeness was added to Fortnite, making him the first MLB player available in the game.

2025: Ohtani's 2025 Season Stats

In the 2025 season, Ohtani batted .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBI, and 20 stolen bases, leading the National League in several categories. As a pitcher, he posted a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA.

2025: Ohtani's scoreless inning streak

Ohtani had a streak of 32+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings ending on April 15, marking the longest streak by a Japanese-born pitcher in MLB history.

2026: World Baseball Classic

In 2026, Shohei Ohtani played for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic strictly as the designated hitter. In the opening game against Chinese Taipei, he went 3–for–4 with a grand slam and five RBIs, setting a record for the most RBIs (5) in a single inning in WBC history. His strong offensive production during the group stage helped Japan secure an undefeated record in Pool C and advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinal against Venezuela, Ohtani hit a game-tying leadoff home run, but Venezuela overcame an early deficit to eliminate Japan from contention.