Exploring Ohtani’s remarkable journey, his groundbreaking achievements, and his impact on the future of baseball.

Early Beginnings..

Jefferies Jiang
3 min readJul 18, 2024

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Shohei Ohtani was born on July 5, 1994, in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. From a young age, it was evident that Ohtani possessed a rare blend of athleticism and skill. Encouraged by his parents — both athletes in their own right — Ohtani pursued baseball with relentless passion. His high school career at Hanamaki Higashi High School was nothing short of spectacular, where he set the national record for the fastest pitch by a high schooler at 99 mph (160 km/h).

The Move to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)

Ohtani’s decision to join the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league instead of immediately pursuing a career in Major League Baseball (MLB) was a strategic one. It allowed him to refine his skills and gain invaluable experience. During his five seasons with the Fighters, Ohtani’s dual-threat capabilities flourished. He won the Pacific League MVP in 2016 and led his team to a Japan Series championship, solidifying his reputation as a generational talent.

Crossing the Pacific: Arrival in MLB

In 2017, Ohtani made the highly anticipated move to MLB, signing with the Los Angeles Angels. His arrival was met with immense hype, and he quickly demonstrated that he was worth every bit of it. Despite…

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