Shohei Ohtani's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Shohei Ohtani.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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.

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: 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: 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.