SatJul 5

Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani, born July 5, 1994, is a professional baseball player whose 2021 M.V.P. Season was one of the most memorable in history. In 2013, he joined Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to play for them, and In 2018, he got drafted by Los Angeles Angels. In 2021, Ohtani recorded quite a number of awards and achievements, such as 2x American League Player of the Month, Los Angeles Player of the Year, and American League Most Valuable Player. Let us help you celebrate this star baseball player right here.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Shohei Ohtani

Nickname:

Shotime

Birth date:

July 5, 1994

Age:

30

Zodiac Sign:

Cancer

Height:

6' 4"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$10 million

Shohei's Social Media:

Background

Shohei Ohtani is a professional baseball player who has been extraordinary for many years. He was born July 5, 1994, in Japan to Toru and Kayoko Ohtani. He attended Hanamaki Higashi High School in Japan, where he was a high school pitcher in baseball. He was born into an athletic family as his father was a corporate league baseball player and his mother was a national-level badminton player.

Ohtani’s career took off to a great start from high school as he broke the record for the fastest pitch in baseball. He joined the 18U Baseball World Championship in 2012, and at the end of the game, he had the best record of 0-1 win-loss with 16 strikeouts. Subsequently, he aspired to go to the U.S. to play in the big leagues. He soon gained international attention as he got the interest of the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2012, he decided not to play as a professional in Japan but played for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. In 2014, he set the record for the fastest pitch by a Japanese pitcher. The jersey he wore for the game ended up being sold for $17,000 at the All-Star 2014 Charity Auction. He was honored in 2016 with the Nippon Professional Most Valuable Player Award. In 2017, he signed a deal with Los Angeles Angels, who acquired him as a hitter and pitcher. In 2021, he competed in the Home Run Derby and set the record for the most home runs. He received $150,000 for his participation and decided to give out his earnings as a “thank you” donation to 30 Angels employees, which included trainers, media relations officers, and clubhouse workers. As of 2021, Ohtani has a couple of endorsements like Japan Airlines, Asics, Hugo Boss, Topps, and Fanatics. He joined FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, as its global ambassador.

In Japan, Ohtani made a mark for himself that would make him one of the greatest baseball players to be remembered in history. He is known as ‘yakyū shōnen,’ which means ‘a kid who lives, breathes, and eats baseball.’ He is not as fluent in English as he would like to be and prefers to use an interpreter to translate from Japanese to English for him during media rounds. He allows his parents to care for his finances, and it is reported that his mother pays about $1,000 into his bank account, which he rarely uses.

Career timeline

2012
The U-18 National Team

Ohtani is selected to join Japan’s U-18 National team.

2013
The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

At 18, Ohtani made his debut in the club’s first season game playing as a right fielder.

2018
He Joins Los Angeles Angels

Ohtani plays as a hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels.

2021
The E.S.P.Y. Award Winner

Ohtani wins Best Major League Baseball Player at the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award.

Why We Love Shohei Ohtani

  1. He is a kind soul

    Ohtani’s teammates can attest to him having the warmest heart. They only say positive things about Ohtani. He is exactly our type of person.

  2. He is an influential person

    Ohtani’s skills and humility earned him a spot on “Time“ Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2021. Ohtani continuously gains the support of his teammates, well-wishers, and fans worldwide. We love this trendsetter.

  3. Ohtani is an M.V.P.

    He is the most valuable player, winning the American League M.V.P. award. He has gone on to win quite a couple of awards. We absolutely admire Ohtani.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. He used to swim

    Ohtani’s high school coach praised his swimming skills and claimed he was “Olympic Material.”

  2. His career was influenced by his father

    It was his father, Koru, who first introduced Ohtani to baseball.

  3. He has no driver’s license

    Ohtani has a chef's license but not a driver’s license.

  4. He is not a fan of alcohol

    Ohtani does not socialize much, and this accounts for his being single and detesting alcohol.

  5. He loves history

    Ohtani’s favorite subject back in high school was history.

Shohei Ohtani FAQs

Can Shohei Ohtani speak English?

He speaks English, but he is not fluent in it.

What is the rarest Ohtani card?

One of his rarest cards is the 2018 Bowman Rookie Card #49, worth $4,000.

What number is Shohei?

Ohtani’s number is 17 on the Los Angeles Angels.

Shohei Ohtani’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2025 July 5 Saturday
2026 July 5 Sunday
2027 July 5 Monday
2028 July 5 Wednesday
2029 July 5 Thursday
July
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 
 

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