Shohei Ohtani: MLB's Rising Superstar and Record-Breaker

by Jacob Dunn, age 15

Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese player in Major League Baseball (MLB), is making a big name for himself. Ohtani is breaking all types of baseball records and could be the next greatest player in the MLB.

Shohei Ohtani, born in Oshu, Japan, was brought into baseball early as his family loved the sport. Both his parents were impressive athletes themselves: his father played semi-professional baseball while his mother was a badminton player. By the time Ohtani was in high school, he was a two-way athlete, playing as a designated hitter and pitching. At 17, he was on the field throwing pitches as fast as 99 miles per hour. His talents had professional scouts looking to draft him. Ohtani dreamed of being in the MLB, but there was still a long way to go.

In 2012, his professional career started when he entered the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league draft. Shohei Ohtani was the first pick overall and was drafted by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. For four years, he made a name for himself as a two-way player.

Ohtani gained attention from MLB scouts. During his time with the Ham Fighters, he had multiple all star appearances and a championship to his name. After his team with the Ham Fighters, he proved he could play in American Major League Baseball. This was reaffirmed when he was courted by all 30 teams and deemed worthy enough to play in the MLB. He was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Angels for $155 million. During his five-year contract with them, he broke a record for being the first-ever two-way player to make the all-star team as a batter and fielder.

When Ohtani became a free agent, the Los Angeles Dodgers made history by giving him the highest-paying contract in MLB history with a staggering 10-year contract for $700 million on December 9, 2023. That is almost twice the previous record of a $426 million contract to center fielder, Mike Trout, for 12 years. While playing for the Dodgers on April 21, Shohei Ohtani broke the record for most home runs by a Japanese-born player, exceeding Hideki Matsui's old record of 175 home runs.

After signing the biggest contract in MLB history and breaking multiple records, Shohei Ohtani is paving the way for Japanese and foreign baseball players. Ohtani is showing that foreigners have a chance to become the next big star and have the ability to play Major League Baseball in the U.S.

[Sources: ESPN; Biography; Britanica]