The surge of baseball fans and fanatics alike in 2024 can be traced to the rising popularity of one—Shohei Ohtani. Even if you don’t know who he is, you probably have seen him as the face of billboards, advertisements, and even vending machines.
Credit: Dodgers via Ohtani’s Instagram
Born in Oshu, Japan, Shohei Ohtani developed a passion for baseball alongside his brother. By 17, he was the top teen pitcher in Japan, reaching speeds of 99 mph (159 km/h). Renowned for his dual talent as both a pitcher and hitter, he drew attention from scouts worldwide, eager to see where “Japan’s greatest prospect” would go after graduation.
Shohei Ohtani was drafted by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters before joining MLB in 2017. Debuting with the Los Angeles Angels on March 29, he became the first player selected for the All-Star Game as both a hitter and pitcher in his 2021 rookie season, winning the AL MVP award three times consecutively.
Ultimately at the end of the 2023 season, Ohtani was a free agent whose decision on his next team brought the attention of every baseball fanatic across the globe. In the end, Ohtani decided to sign a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers—the largest payday in sports history.
After joining the Dodgers, Ohtani announced the team’s “most valuable pet”: Decoy Ohtani, sparking speculation about his personal life and potential relationship. He later revealed his marriage to Mamiko Tanaka on March 1st, prompting a flood of congratulatory messages on Instagram, alongside some heartbroken comments.
Credit: Ohtani Shohei’s Instagram
There were, however, a few “misses” to this baseball season with Ohtani’s long-time interpreter Ippei Mizuhara involved in a gambling scandal, and undergoing several surgeries to recover from his injuries. With Game 2 of the World Series, Ohtani also sustained an injury to his left shoulder that required surgery.
Despite the rocky ups and downs that occurred for him this baseball season, 2024 has been a tremendous victory for Shohei Ohtani. On August 23, Ohtani became the 6th person in the MLB to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases. Less than a month later, Ohtani set a record for a 50-50 season, becoming the first player ever to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same year—further solidifying his status as one of the most dynamic players in baseball history.
Just as Ohtani will continue to hit and pitch, the rest of the world is waiting to see him succeed as this year’s “hit” athlete.
