Shohei Ohtani, born July 5, 1994 in Ōshū, Japan, has risen to become one of baseball’s most revolutionary figures—an athlete who excels both as a pitcher and a hitter. He began his professional career with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan, where he was allowed—and insisted—to play both roles. After dominating in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), he transitioned to Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels.Over time, Ohtani’s impact expanded far beyond wins and home runs—his two-way ability has changed how teams think about player roles, conditioning, and career longevity.
A highlight of Ohtani’s recent years was his groundbreaking 2024 season, during which he became the first MLB player to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season. Although recovering from an elbow injury that limited his pitching, he still delivered as an offensive powerhouse for the Los Angeles Dodgers—earning unanimous National League MVP and leading them to a World Series title. In 2025, his dominance continued: Ohtani broke his own franchise home run records by hitting his 55th home run of the season, topped MLB jersey sales for the third straight year, and reaffirmed his status as a global icon of the sport.
From an E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) perspective, Ohtani checks every box. His experience spans elite leagues in Japan and the U.S.; his expertise is verifiable through statistical achievements in both pitching and hitting; his authoritativeness is recognized through multiple MVP awards, unanimous voting, and respect from peers and media; and his trustworthiness is grounded in the consistency and transparency of his performance, even when overcoming injuries. For fans, analysts, and up-and-coming players, Ohtani is a vivid example of what modern athletic excellence can be when talent, discipline, and innovation combine.
