History of Shohei Ohtani in Timeline
Shohei Ohtani, nicknamed "Shotime", is a Japanese professional baseball player currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He excels as both a designated hitter and a pitcher, a rare two-way talent. He previously played for the Los Angeles Angels in MLB and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Ohtani's exceptional performance in both roles has led to his prime seasons being considered among the best in baseball history, drawing comparisons to Babe Ruth.
1920: RBI Becomes an Official Statistic
In 1920, RBI became an official statistic in MLB.
1930: Babe Ruth sets AL/NL record for walks.
In 1930, Babe Ruth set an AL/NL record for walks. From September 22 to 25, Ohtani tied an AL/NL record set by Babe Ruth in 1930.
1950: Junzo Sekine and Osamu Takechi
In 1950, Junzo Sekine was the first rookie hurler to bat 3rd, 4th, or 5th and Osamu Takechi was the second player to start a game as a pitcher, bat in the heart of the order, and get a hit and a run batted in (RBI) in that game.
1951: Kikuo Tokunaga
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.
1963: Takao Kajimoto Batted
In 1963, Takao Kajimoto was the first Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB) pitcher since 1963 to bat 3rd, 4th, or 5th.
1967: Toshiaki Moriyasu
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.
April 26, 1970: Luis Tiant's game for the Minnesota Twins.
On April 26, 1970, Luis Tiant threw a scoreless top half and recorded a hit, a RBI, a stolen base and a scored run while playing in an AL ballpark. On July 26, Ohtani matched that performance.
1982: Reggie Jackson's record for Angels.
In 1982, Reggie Jackson set a record for the Angels. On August 18, Ohtani surpassed Reggie Jackson's 1982 record of 39.
July 5, 1994: Shohei Ohtani Born
On July 5, 1994, Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese professional baseball player known for his exceptional skills as both a designated hitter and pitcher, was born. He later played for the Los Angeles Angels and currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB).
1998: Jose Canseco's Home Run and Stolen Bases.
In 1998, Jose Canseco made a record. Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to have at least 45 homers, 25 stolen bases, 100 RBIs, 100 runs, and eight triples in a season and the second player in AL history to record at least 45 homers and 25 stolen bases in a season, joining Jose Canseco in 1998.
1999: Ken Griffey Jr. reaches 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
In 1999, Ken Griffey Jr. reached 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Ohtani joined Ken Griffey Jr. in 1999 as the 3rd AL player to accomplish this feat before September.
2000: Troy Glaus hits 47 home runs in a season.
In 2000, Troy Glaus hit 47 home runs in a single season. In 2021, Ohtani finished with the second-most home runs in a season in Angels history with 46.
2001: Daisuke Matsuzaka
In 2001, Daisuke Matsuzaka was the second player out of high school in NPB history to reach 100M yen in salary in his third year.
2004: Hideki Matsui's home run record.
In 2004, Hideki Matsui set a record. On July 7, 2021, Ohtani surpassed Hideki Matsui's mark in 2004, for the most home runs hit during a season by a Japanese-born player in MLB.
2006: Fastest player to join the 40-40 club
In 2006, Alfonso Soriano set the record for the fastest player to join the 40-40 club, which Ohtani beat by 21 games.
August 21, 2007: Garret Anderson's Franchise Record
On August 21, 2007, Garret Anderson set a franchise record for the Los Angeles Angels with 10 RBIs against the New York Yankees.
2007: Alex Rodriguez reaches 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
In 2007, Alex Rodriguez reached 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Ohtani joined Alex Rodriguez in 2007 as the 3rd AL player to accomplish this feat before September.
2010: Previous Fastest 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 this record in July 2014.
2011: Curtis Granderson reaches 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
In 2011, Curtis Granderson reached 40 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Ohtani also became the first AL player to reach both of those totals in a season since Curtis Granderson in 2011.
2011: Ohtani's home ERA matched Jered Weaver's record.
In 2011, Jered Weaver set a low ERA. Ohtani matched Jered Weaver's record.
September 2012: Chase Headley wins back-to-back Player of the Month Awards
In August and September of 2012, Chase Headley became the first back-to-back Player of the Month Award winner. In July 2021, Ohtani earned his second American League Player of the Month Award.
October 21, 2012: Announced MLB Pursuit
On October 21, 2012, Shohei Ohtani announced his intention to pursue a career in Major League Baseball (MLB) after high school, garnering interest from several teams. Later, he signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters with an agreement to move to MLB after some years.
2012: Selected to Japan's national under-18 team
In 2012, Ohtani was selected to Japan's national under-18 team that eventually finished in sixth place at the 2012 U-18 Baseball World Cup in Seoul.
2012: First Pick in NPB Draft
In 2012, Shohei Ohtani was the first pick of the Fighters in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft, marking an early recognition of his elite two-way abilities as a baseball player.
2012: 99 mph Fastball
In 2012, Shohei Ohtani, as an 18-year-old high school pitcher, threw a 99 mph fastball, setting a Japanese high school baseball record at the time. He threw the pitch in the Japanese national high school baseball championship tournament, commonly called Summer Koshien.
March 29, 2013: Fighters' Debut
On March 29, 2013, Shohei Ohtani made his debut for the Fighters at age 18 in their season-opening game, playing as a right fielder.
2013: Debut with the Fighters
In 2013, Shohei Ohtani began his career with the Fighters, playing as both a pitcher and an outfielder, which demonstrated his versatility as a two-way player.
2013: Relationship with Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara
Ippei Mizuhara was Ohtani's personal interpreter with the Angels and Dodgers, having known Ohtani since he was 18, starting in 2013 during Ohtani's days with the Fighters.
July 2014: Fastest Pitch Record
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. The jersey he wore during the game was sold for 1.75 million yen in a charity auction, with the proceeds going to Tohoku earthquake children's relief funds.
2015: 2015 Season
2015 marked Shohei Ohtani's third professional season, where he earned 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: WBSC Baseball Player of the Year
In 2015, Ohtani earned a bronze medal with the Japanese national team. He was named to the Premier12 All-World Team and was named the 2015 WBSC Baseball Player of the Year.
2016: Bryce Harper sets AL/NL record for walks.
In 2016, Bryce Harper set an AL/NL record for walks. From September 22 to 25, Ohtani tied an AL/NL record set by Bryce Harper in 2016.
2016: Ohtani injures his ankle during Japan Series.
In 2016, Ohtani suffered an ankle injury during the Japan Series. This injury would later cost him an opportunity to play in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
2016: 2016 Season
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani had a dominant season, hitting 22 home runs and maintaining an ERA of 1.86. He won the Best Nine award as both a designated hitter and a pitcher and won the Pacific League MVP. He also set a new NPB record, hitting 102.5 mph.
2016: Led Nippon Ham to the 2016 Japan Series
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani led Nippon Ham to the Japan Series, where he contributed significantly both as a pitcher and a hitter, helping his team secure their second Japan Series title.
2016: Won Japan Series with Fighters
In 2016, Shohei Ohtani won the Japan Series with the Fighters, marking a significant achievement in his career in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
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 a posting agreement for Shohei Ohtani, allowing him to be posted at the end of the season to play in MLB.
December 9, 2017: Ohtani signs with Los Angeles Angels
On December 9, 2017, Shohei Ohtani officially signed a deal with the Los Angeles Angels to play in Major League Baseball.
2017: Posted to MLB
After the 2017 season, the Fighters posted Shohei Ohtani to Major League Baseball (MLB), paving the way for his move to the United States to play professional baseball.
2017: CAA Sports Representation
In 2017, Ohtani has been represented by agent Nez Balelo of CAA Sports since 2017, shortly after announcing his plans to pursue an MLB career.
2017: Withdrawal from the World Baseball Classic due to an ankle injury
In 2017, Ohtani was on Japan's 28-man roster for the World Baseball Classic but was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury.
July 7, 2018: First MLB player to reach 10 or more RBI in a single game since July 7, 2018
On July 7, 2018, Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player since that date to reach 10 or more RBI in a single game.
2018: Mike Trout's intentional walks record.
In 2018, Mike Trout set a record. For the year, Ohtani finished his pitching campaign by making 23 starts on the mound, going 9–2 with a 3.18 ERA, 156 strikeouts, 1.09 WHIP, and 44 walks in 130 1/3 innings. On the hitting side, Ohtani finished with an American League-leading 20 intentional walks, which was the most by an AL player since Trout in 2018.
2018: Forbes 30 under 30 Asia class of 2018
In 2018, Ohtani was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia class of 2018 in the field of Entertainment & Sports.
2018: Fastball Record Surpassed
In 2018, Rōki Sasaki surpassed Shohei Ohtani's previous record for the fastest fastball by a Japanese high school pitcher, throwing a 101 mph fastball. Ohtani's previous record was set in 2012.
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, solidifying his position as a promising talent in Major League Baseball (MLB).
May 7, 2019: Ohtani returns to the Angels after Tommy John surgery
On May 7, 2019, Shohei Ohtani played his first game with the Angels since undergoing Tommy John surgery. He batted as a designated hitter against the Detroit Tigers.
2019: Injury-Plagued Season
In 2019, Shohei Ohtani experienced an injury-plagued season, which impacted his performance and availability on the field.
2020: Mookie Betts' Arbitration Record
In 2020, Mookie Betts received $27 million before the season.
2020: Another Injury-Plagued Season
In 2020, Shohei Ohtani continued to face challenges as he experienced another season marked by injuries, affecting his ability to contribute consistently.
November 16, 2021: Joins FTX as a Global Ambassador
On November 16, 2021, Ohtani joined cryptocurrency exchange FTX as a global ambassador, partnering on various animal charitable initiatives.
2021: Sprint Speed Percentile in 2021 Season
For the 2021 season, Ohtani's 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 selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher
In 2021, Ohtani became the first player to be selected as an All-Star as both a position player and a pitcher. He also hit his 32nd home run of the year on July 7, surpassing Hideki Matsui's record for most home runs in a season by a Japanese-born player in MLB.
2021: Endorsement earnings in 2021
In 2021, Ohtani endorsement earnings were an MLB league-leading $6 million.
2021: Ohtani's Strikeout Total in 2021
In 2021, Ohtani had a total of 156 strikeouts.
2021: Awards and Recognition
In 2021, Ohtani was named to Time 100's list of most influential people of 2021 and awarded the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award by Commissioner Rob Manfred.
2021: AL Most Valuable Player Award
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani had a statistically unprecedented two-way season, hitting 46 home runs and striking out 156 batters, which led to him winning his first American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) and also the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award.
2021: Ohtani Wins AL MVP and other Awards
In 2021, Shohei Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player. He also received numerous other awards, including the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, the Silver Slugger Award, and recognition on Time 100's list of most influential people. Ohtani was also awarded the Silver Slugger Award for being the best offensive player at the designated hitter position in the American League, and was named to Time 100's list of most influential people of 2021
2021: Yasmani Grandal sets AL/NL record for walks.
In 2021, Yasmani Grandal set an AL/NL record for walks. From September 22 to 25, Ohtani tied an AL/NL record set by Yasmani Grandal in 2021.
March 22, 2022: MLB Introduces the "Ohtani Rule"
On March 22, 2022, Major League Baseball introduced a new rule colloquially dubbed the "Ohtani rule" which allows a pitcher in the batting order to remain in the game as a designated hitter after they are pulled from the pitching mound.
July 6, 2022: Ohtani Makes MLB History Against the 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: Ohtani Achieves Historical Feats Against the Oakland Athletics
On August 9, 2022, Shohei Ohtani achieved three historical feats in a game against the Oakland Athletics. He joined Babe Ruth in the 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.
November 2022: FTX files for bankruptcy
In November 2022, FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange Ohtani was a global ambassador for, filed for bankruptcy, wiping out billions of dollars in customer funds.
2022: Endorsement earnings in 2022
In 2022, Ohtani endorsement earnings were an MLB league-leading $20 million.
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 a single season, while finishing third in the AL with 219 strikeouts.
2022: Ohtani Opts to Hit Only in 2022 All-Star Game
Like in 2022, Ohtani opted to participate only as a hitter in the All-Star Game and not pitch due to a blister.
2022: Ohtani's 2022 Season Performance
Shohei 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.
April 2023: Motion to Dismiss from FTX Lawsuit
In April 2023, Ohtani's lawyers filed for his dismissal from the FTX lawsuit.
June 15, 2023: Ohtani Wins AL Player of the Week and Pitches Against Texas Rangers
On June 15, 2023, Ohtani started as pitcher and won against the Texas Rangers. From June 12 to 18, 2023, Ohtani was named AL Player of the Week after hitting six home runs, going .435 (10-for-23), 12 RBIs, 10 walks and a 1.893 OPS over seven games.
July 2, 2023: Ohtani Wins Sixth Career AL Player of the Week
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. From June 26 to July 2, 2023, he hit six home runs with a 1.783 OPS over a seven-day span, including a career-long 493-foot home run, which was the longest homer in the 2023 MLB season.
August 2023: First pitching appearance since August 2023
On June 16, Ohtani made his first pitching appearance as a Dodger, and first since August 2023, pitching one inning while allowing one run on two hits.
September 2023: Ohtani's Elbow Injury and Surgery in September 2023
Due to 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, 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.
2023: Ohtani's Hitting Stats in 2023
In 135 games as a hitter in 2023, Ohtani batted .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. 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: New brand deals in 2023
In 2023, Ohtani added two new deals with New Balance and Japanese cosmetics company Kosé.
2023: Endorsement earnings in 2023
In 2023, Ohtani endorsement earnings were estimated to be an MLB league-leading $35–40 million.
2023: World Baseball Classic MVP
In 2023, Ohtani played for Japan in the World Baseball Classic and was named the Pool B MVP for his hitting and pitching performances. He earned the save in the championship game after pitching the final inning of Japan's win over the U.S., striking out Mike Trout. Ohtani won the tournament's MVP award after batting .435/.606/.739 as a hitter and posting a 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9+2⁄3 innings as a pitcher.
2023: Ohtani Earns Spot on 2023 All-Star Roster
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani earned an automatic spot on the 2023 All-Star roster after being the leading vote-getter in the American League All-Star ballot during Phase 1 of fan voting, receiving 2,646,307 votes as the starter in the DH position. He was also elected as an All-Star pitcher for the American League, making it the third straight year Ohtani was named an All-Star as both a pitcher and a DH.
2023: Second AL MVP Award
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani won his second American League (AL) MVP award, leading the AL with 44 home runs while also recording 10 wins as a pitcher. He became the first player to win multiple unanimous MVPs and the first Japanese-born player to win a league home run title.
2023: All-WBC team selection at two positions
In 2023, after helping Japan clinch its third WBC title, Ohtani became the only player to be named to the All-WBC team at two separate positions, as both a DH and a pitcher.
2023: Ohtani Wins MVP and Other Awards in 2023
In 2023, for the second time in his career, Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player, becoming the first player in MLB history to win MVP by unanimous vote twice. He was also named to the 2023 All-MLB Team, becoming the first player to ever be named to both first teams in the same season (as a designated hitter and starting pitcher respectively).
2023: Ohtani's Opening Day Start and Strikeout Record in 2023
In 2023, fresh off being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Ohtani made his second straight Opening Day start for the Angels while batting third in the lineup against the Athletics on March 30. On May 10, he struck out Jeremy Peña of the Astros for his 502nd career pitching strikeout, passing Babe Ruth on the all-time strikeout list.
2023: Angels Sign Ohtani to a One-Year Deal
On October 1, 2022, the Angels avoided arbitration with Shohei Ohtani for the 2023 season, signing him to a one-year deal worth $30 million.
February 2024: Announcement of marriage
In February 2024, 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 Ohtani's bank account to a Southern California bookmaking operation under federal investigation, leading to the firing of his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Ohtani denied any involvement in sports betting.
May 9, 2024: Development of Scripted Series Announced
On May 9, 2024, Lionsgate Television announced the development of a scripted series based on the interpreter gambling scandal.
December 29, 2024: Announcement of first child
On December 29, 2024, Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram that he and his wife were expecting their first child.
2024: Signed with Dodgers
After the 2023 season, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, which was the largest contract in professional sports history at the time. Unable to pitch in 2024 due to an elbow injury, Ohtani played as a designated hitter (DH) for the Dodgers. He also achieved the milestone of being the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, and he was unanimously named the 2024 National League MVP. He also won the 2024 World Series.
2024: National League MVP Award
After the 2024 season, Shohei Ohtani 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 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.
2024: Ohtani's Debut with the Dodgers in 2024
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: Ohtani to Miss Pitching in 2024
On August 23, 2023, 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 Sentenced to Prison
In February 2025, Mizuhara was sentenced to repay Ohtani $17 million along with a 57-month prison sentence.
April 17, 2025: Return to Los Angeles in anticipation of baby’s arrival
On April 17, 2025, Ohtani returned to Los Angeles during a Dodgers road trip in anticipation of the baby’s arrival.
May 2025: Named NL Player of the Month
In May 2025, Ohtani was named the NL Player of the Month after achieving .309/.398/.782, with 15 home runs on the month.
2025: Estimated Endorsements
By 2025, Ohtani's estimated endorsements had risen to $100 million for the year.
2025: Appearance in Fortnite
In 2025, Ohtani's likeness was added to Fortnite, making him the first MLB player available in the game.
2034: Deferred Payments Start Date
Ohtani's deferred payments from his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to start in 2034.
2043: Deferred Payments End Date
Ohtani's deferred payments from his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers are scheduled to end in 2043.
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