Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is recognized as a rare two-way player in professional baseball, excelling as both a hitter and a pitcher. Ohtani began his career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Nippon Professional Baseball, where he contributed as a pitcher and outfielder and helped the team win the Japan Series. After being posted to Major League Baseball, he joined the Los Angeles Angels and earned the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Ohtani's impact on MLB has been significant, with achievements that include hitting 46 home runs and striking out 156 batters in a single season, earning the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He became the first player in MLB history to be named an All-Star as both a pitcher and a position player. Ohtani has also received the Silver Slugger Award and has been recognized by Time Magazine, Associated Press, Sporting News, Baseball Digest, and Baseball America for his influence and performance. His season was further distinguished by two Guinness World Records, including being the first MLB player to record 100 or more innings pitched and 100 or more strikeouts as a pitcher, alongside 100 or more RBIs, hits, and runs as a batter.

After joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract, setting a new record for the largest contract in professional sports. He became the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a regular season, finishing with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. Ohtani also led MLB with 411 total bases and contributed to the Dodgers' World Series victories.

Ohtani is the only player in baseball history to win multiple Most Valuable Player awards in both the American League and National League, joining Frank Robinson as the only players to be named MVP in both leagues. Internationally, Ohtani helped Japan win the World Baseball Classic, earning MVP honors for the tournament. At the 2026 ESPYS, Ohtani received the Best Single-Game Performance and Best MLB Player awards.

Ohtani's career has included overcoming injuries, including Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him from pitching for an extended period. Upon returning, he posted a 1.014 OPS, hit 55 home runs, and recorded a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts. In postseason play, Ohtani struck out 10 batters and hit three home runs in a single game during the National League Championship Series. He is the first player in Major League history to achieve 300 career home runs and over 500 career strikeouts as a pitcher, highlighting his unique place in baseball history.