Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese two-way superstar, continues to redefine Major League Baseball history as a designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani set career highs across the board: a .310/.390/.646 slash line, 197 hits, 38 doubles, 54 home runs, 130 RBI, and 59 stolen bases in 159 games. On September 19 in Miami, he became the first player ever to join MLB’s 50/50 club, highlighted by a 6-for-6 performance with three homers, 10 RBI, two doubles, and two steals—breaking the Dodgers’ single-game RBI record.
Ohtani’s 2024 campaign was filled with milestones. On August 23 against the Rays, he launched his first career walk-off grand slam, becoming the fastest player to reach the 40/40 mark (40 home runs, 40 stolen bases) in just 129 games. Earlier, on July 30, he joined the Dodgers’ exclusive 30/30 club, previously reached by Raul Mondesi and Matt Kemp. He also established himself as the all-time home run leader among Japanese-born MLB players and hit his 200th career homer in Detroit on July 13.
Ohtani dominated the National League, leading in home runs (54), runs (134), RBI (130), OBP (.390), SLG (.646), OPS (1.036), plate appearances (731), and total bases (411), and finishing second in stolen bases behind Elly De La Cruz. He earned four NL Player of the Week honors and was named NL Player of the Month for September after posting a .393/.458/.766/1.224 line with 10 homers and 16 steals in 26 games. In his first postseason, Ohtani helped the Dodgers win the World Series, contributing three homers and 10 RBI in 16 games.
Ohtani was unanimously named National League MVP, securing all 30 first-place votes, and became the first Dodger designated hitter to win the award. He is only the second player in MLB history to win MVP in both leagues, joining Frank Robinson. Ohtani’s accolades included his fourth straight All-MLB First Team selection, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding DH Award, National League Silver Slugger, Hank Aaron Award, and MLB Players Choice NL Outstanding Player Award.
Before joining the Dodgers, Ohtani completed another MVP season with the Los Angeles Angels, hitting .304/.412/.654 with 44 homers and 95 RBI while going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 23 starts. He led the American League in home runs, OBP, SLG, and OPS, while also topping AL pitchers in opponents’ batting average (.184).
Internationally, Ohtani led Team Japan to victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, earning MVP honors after batting .435 with a 1.345 OPS and pitching to a 1.86 ERA. His legendary two-way performances have drawn constant comparisons to Babe Ruth and established him as a generational talent.
Ohtani, nicknamed “Showtime,” was born in Oshu, Japan, on July 5, 1994, attended Hanamaki Higashi High School, and debuted in MLB on March 29, 2018. He has played for both the Angels and Dodgers, and at 6’3″ and 210 lbs, he remains a dominant force on both the mound and at the plate. Ohtani is active on social media at @shoheiohtani.
For up-to-date stats and highlights, visit his ESPN profile.