Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani
Japanese baseball player
Nicknames: “The Babe Ruth of Japan”, “The Japanese Sensation”, “The Ohtani Express”, “Sho Time”, “The King of Angels”, “The Big O”.
Born: July 5, 1994 (age 28). Ōshū, Japan.
Who is Shohei?
Shohei Ohtani is a professional baseball player from Japan who currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on July 5, 1994, in Oshu, Iwate, Japan.
Ohtani is a two-way player, capable of pitching and hitting at a high level, and is known for his exceptional skills on both sides of the ball. He started his professional career in 2013 with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league in Japan, where he quickly became a star and won several awards, including the Pacific League Rookie of the Year in his debut season.
In 2018, Ohtani signed with the Angels and made his MLB debut, becoming the first player since Babe Ruth to play as both a pitcher and a designated hitter on a regular basis. Since then, he has continued to impress fans and analysts alike with his remarkable talent, winning the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018 and the American League Most Valuable Player award in 2021.
Player Profile and Stats
Shohei Ohtani is a remarkable two-way player who has made a name for himself in both pitching and hitting. As a pitcher, Ohtani boasts a four-seam fastball that can reach up to 101 mph, a slider, and a splitter that has become one of the most effective pitches in his repertoire. In his MLB career, Ohtani has recorded a 3.57 ERA with 330 strikeouts over 255 innings pitched.
As a hitter, Ohtani possesses incredible power and has hit some of the longest home runs in the league. He has a career batting average of .261 with 71 home runs, 187 RBIs, and 50 stolen bases.
Ohtani’s versatility as a two-way player has earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting and unique players in the game today, and his remarkable performance in the 2021 season, where he led the league in home runs and won the American League Most Valuable Player award, has solidified his place as one of the top players in the game.
Awards And Honors
- American League Most Valuable Player (2021)
- American League Rookie of the Year (2018)
- All-MLB First Team Designated Hitter (2021)
- All-MLB Second Team Starting Pitcher (2021
- American League Player of the Week (multiple times)
- Nippon Professional Baseball Pacific League Most Valuable Player (2016)
- Japan Series Champion (2016)
- Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star (2013-2017)
- Ohtani was a high school baseball star in Japan, where he won the prestigious National High School Baseball Championship in 2012.
- In addition to his skills on the baseball field, Ohtani is also an accomplished table tennis player, and has competed in tournaments in Japan.
- Ohtani’s love for baseball began when he was just a toddler, and he reportedly used to practice hitting and pitching in his backyard with his father’s help.
- Ohtani’s nickname in Japan is “Sho Time,” a nod to his first name and his remarkable skills on the field.
- Shohei Ohtani is also an accomplished singer and has released several singles in Japan. He has even performed the national anthem at baseball games.