On July 5th, 1994, the future star was born to Toru and Kayoko Ohtani in Oshu, Japan. Ohtani hails from a family of athletes. His father, Toru, worked in a local automobile manufacturing plant but he was also a baseball player in the Japanese Industrial League. He recognized his son’s natural talent for the game at a very young age and committed himself to coaching his son to the best of his ability. 

Early Life: Ohtani’s upbringing

Meanwhile, Shohei’s mother was a badminton star in high school, giving him the genes of not one, but two athletes. 

She briefly played at a national level but ultimately opted to retire from sports in her late twenties to prioritize her family.

Shohei’s older brother Ryuta initially pursued a career as an amateur baseball player and eventually transitioned into coaching for a corporate baseball team. His sister, Yuka, played volleyball as a teenager before embarking on a career in the medical field. Clearly, the Ohtani’s were a family of athletes, but it was Shohei who would eventually become the greatest of them all.

Career: Shohei Ohtani is a living baseball legend

Ohtani was a pitcher for Hanamaki Higashi High School. As an 18 year-old, he showcased a near 100-mph fastball, proving from a very early age that he was athletically gifted. 

Ohtani joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, a Japanese professional team, in 2013. He began to make a name for himself as a rare two-way player, pitching and hitting at a very high level, and catching the attention of MLB scouts. 

Ohtani declared free agency in 2017 and after being offered contracts by numerous MLB teams, including the Seattle Mariners, he chose to sign with the Los Angeles Angels. He made his major league debut against the Oakland Athletics on March 29, 2018 as a designated hitter, and made his pitching debut two days later, also against the A’s. 

After winning the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018, Ohtani put the rest of the league on watch. But a bipartite patella injury in 2019 cut his second MLB season short. Worries about his ability to be a two-way player and stay healthy long-term came to the forefront again in 2020, when he fell to a flexor strain on his elbow. 

The 2021 rolled around, and Ohtani finally put up the numbers he was expected to produce when he joined the Angels. He led the MLB in WAR and won the AL MVP Award. He put together another stellar season in 2022, finishing second-place in MVP voting to Yankees star Aaron Judge.  

In his sixth Major League season with the Angels, the 29-year-old continued his dominance at both the plate and on the mound. He ranked in the Top Four in the American League in home runs with his second 40+ HR season. He also improved on the mound, starting the All-Star game for the American League, and it ultimately led him to win the second MVP award of his career. It also helped him sign the largest contract in the history of baseball the following offseason. 

The details of the largest contract in baseball history:

Shortly after the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings, on December 9, 2023, Shohei Ohtani inked a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although the “richest in North American sports history," this deal had a special provision: $68 million out of the $70 million annually are deferrals. This showed Ohtani’s desire to win, as his deferrals allowed for the Dodgers to allocate their resources toward other star players. After years of losing with the Angels, he made it clear winning is his primary objective. 

By the time Ohtani starts receiving his deferrals, he will no longer be a Dodger. According to experts, the two-way phenomenon could save between $90 and $100 million in state taxes if he lives outside of California when receiving his money, but the money will also be devalued by inflation. 

What is Ohtani’s net worth?

The two-way star just signed a record-breaking $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to various sources, Ohtani's net worth was approximately $50 million in 2023, before signing the mega contract. 

Some industry experts speculate that Ohtani stands to potentially earn approximately $105 million annually in 2024, through his various endorsements, sponsorships, and ad deals.  

Shohei’s Top Achievements

From his time in the Nippon Professional Baseball to becoming the greatest modern MLB star, Shohei Ohtani’s baseball journey has been nothing short of spectacular and has been full of highlights, awards, and amazing achievements. 

International

• World Baseball Classic MVP (2023)
• All-World Baseball Classic Team (2023)

MLB

• AL Hank Aaron Award (2023)
• AL home run leader (2023)
• 3× All-Star (2021–2023)
• 2× AL MVP (2021, 2023)
• 4× All-MLB First Team (2021-2023²)
• 2× All-MLB Second Team (2021, 2022)
• 2× Silver Slugger Award (2021, 2023)
• 3× Edgar Martínez Award (2021–2023)
• 2× AP Athlete of the Year (2021, 2023)
• Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award (2021)
• AL triples leader (2021)
• AL Rookie of the Year (2018)

NPB

• Japan Series champion (2016)
• Pacific League MVP (2016)
• Designated Hitter Best Nine (2016)
• 2× Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize (2016, 2018)
• 2× Pacific League Pitcher Best Nine (2015–2016)
• Pacific League ERA leader (2015)
• Pacific League Battery Award, with Shota Ono (2015)
• WBSC Player of the Year (2015)
• 5× NPB All-Star (2013–2017)

Personal life: Is Ohtani married? 

“Ohtani likes to keep his cards close to his chest." Whether he’s asked about his contract, his endorsements, his interpreter’s betting scandal, or his personal life, Shohei Ohtani likes to keep a private profile. 

Ohtani has been officially and publicly married to Mamiko Tanaka since February 2024, but that hasn’t stopped the tabloids from speculating about his relationships. Kamalani Dung, a Hawaiian woman and professional softball player, was once linked to the Japanese man.

Dung is called a "YouTube Pitcher." As the name implies, Kamalani learned the game of softball through YouTube videos and tutorials. Remarkably, she managed to earn a spot on the Puerto Rican national team and went on to earn a gold medal at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.

That same year, the now-26-year-old posted a picture with Ohtani on her Instagram account. This led to rumors and speculation that perhaps Ohtani and Dung could be in a relationship. However, these rumors were shut down by Dung, who emphasized that she is just a big fan of Ohtani.,