Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese baseball pitcher, hitter and outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. He has played in the NPB for the Fighters from 2013 to 2017 as a pitcher and outfielder. Ohtani has also made a record of the fastest pitch by a Japanese pitcher in NPB history at 165 kilometers per hour.
Born in 1994, Ohtani belonged to a family of players. His mother, Kayoko, was a national-level badminton player in high school and his father worked at a local automobile manufacturing plant but he was an amateur baseball player who played in the Japanese Industrial League.
Also Read: ESPY Awards: WNBA star Brittney Griner remembered by Rapinoe, Jean King
He was the youngest among the three children and his brother was also an amateur baseball player. Initially, he was coached by his father and he began playing baseball in his second year of elementary school.
His amateur career started from his school. He was among the fastest swimmers who also played baseball. He was trained by Hiroshi Sasaki who was his high school baseball coach. He had participated in the under 18 Baseball World Championship and there Ohtani had an 0–1 win-loss record with 16 strikeouts and a 4.35 run average.
Also Read: ESPY Awards 2022: Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko receives Arthur Ashe Award
His professional career started in the year of 2012 when he announced that he would pursue a career in Major League Baseball. Thereafter, Ohtani announced that he would sign with the Fighters and spend some years in Japan before a possible MLB move. He played various tournaments under the Jersey number 11.
Ohtani is the biggest star in Major League Baseball. He has also received various achievements and accolades for his playing. Ohtani has become the 16th recipient of the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award.
The award aims to salute those who make a major impact on the sport of baseball. He has also been acknowledged with the Pacific League Most Valuable Player and Ohtani won Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize in 2016.
