Shohei Ohtani

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Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani at the Los Angeles Angels
Ohtani at the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels - No. 17
Pitcher / Designated Hitter / Outfielder
Born: July 5, 1994 in
Ōshū , JapanJapanJapan 
Strikes: Left Throws: Right
Debut in Major League Baseball
March 29,  2018  at the  Los Angeles Angels
MLB stats
(through July 29, 2019)
Win-loss    4-2
Earned Run Average    3.31
Strikeouts    63
WHIP    1.16
Batting average    , 285
Home runs    37
Teams

Awards

  • WBSC Player of the Year 2015
  • 3 × NPB All Star (2013-2016)
  • Pacific League MVP (2016)
  • 2x AL Rookie of the Month (Apr./ Sep. 2018)
  • American League Rookie of the Year (2018)
Last update: July 30, 2019

Shohei Ohtani ( Japanese 大谷 翔 平 , Ōtani Shōhei ; born July 5, 1994 in Ōshū , Iwate Prefecture ) is a Japanese baseball player on the position of pitcher , who also plays as a designated hitter and outfielder . In December 2017 he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels from the North American Major League Baseball , so that he has played for the California franchise since the 2018 season. Ohtani had previously been under contract with the Hokkaidō Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japanese Pacific League since his professional debut in 2013 .

Life

Shohei Ohtani was born on July 5, 1994, the youngest of three children. His mother, Kayoko Ohtani, was a gifted badminton player while in high school . His father Toru Ohtani played baseball as an employee of the local Mitsubishi Motors plant in a corporate league and got him and his older brother Ryuta enthusiastic about the sport. In his youth, Ohtani was a fan of the Yomiuri Giants and their outfielder Hideki Matsui . He attended Hanamaki Higashi High School, where he first caught on as a talented baseball player at the age of 16.

Professional career

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

2013

Ohtani made his debut as a professional baseball player at the age of 18 for the season opening of the Hokkaidō Nippon Ham Fighters on March 29, 2013 in the position of right fielders. He was elected to the squad for the Pacific League All Star Game Team. As a pitcher, he finished the season with a 3-0 statistic in 11 starts. His dual role as pitcher and position player was unusual in the Nippon Professional Baseball League: Ohtani was the first rookie in the league to appear in both roles in his freshman year.

2014

Ohtani as a batter in the Hokkaidō Nippon Ham Fighters in 2013.
Ohtani as a pitcher for the Hokkaidō Nippon Ham Fighters in 2013.

In his second season, Ohtani hit a batting average of .274 with 28 extra base hits (including 10 home runs), 31 run batted in and an on base percentage of .338 with 212 at-bats. As a pitcher, his earned run average was 2.61 with 179 strikeouts (third in the NPB) in 155.1 innings and 24 starts. Thus, he produced an average of 10.4 strikeouts per 9 innings, which he set a league record this year. In addition, during the All Star Games in July 2014, he set a new record for the fastest thrown fastball ever by a Japanese pitcher at 162 km / h (101 mph). As the first pitcher since Yū Darvish , he earned two shutouts in his first two seasons after high school . During the postseason he was inducted into the squad of the Japanese national baseball team.

2015

In 2015, Ohtani set a number of records for the season as a pitcher. His earned run average was the best in the league at 2.24, and with a win-loss record of 15-5 in just 22 starts, he led the league on average as a starting pitcher. He also pitched 5 complete games and 3 shutouts , which were also league records. At the 2015 WBSC Premier 12 , Ohtani caught the eye with the lowest earned run average - which he held at 0.00 over 13 innings - and the most strikeouts of the tournament.

2016

In 2016, Ohtani had his breakout season as a hitter. He hit 22 home runs, 18 doubles and 67 run batted in in 104 games and 382 plate appearances . He was the first NPB player to receive the "Best Nine award" both as a pitcher and as a hitter. He also won the Pacific League MVP title. In the Japan Series 2016 he was used as a pitcher in the first game and threw 6 innings. In the third game in the series he was used as a designated hitter , where he got three hits, a run and an RBI . One of the three hits was a single in the 10th inning that ultimately led the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to victory.

2017

Ohtani only played 65 games in the NPB in 2017. He achieved a batting average of .332 with 8 home runs and 31 RBIs, as well as a 3-2 win-loss record with an earned run average of 3.20 and 29 strikeouts as a pitcher. With a salary of 270 million yen , he was one of the highest-paid players in the NPB in 2017. Due to an injury to his right ankle, he was unable to participate in the 2017 World Baseball Classic , where he would otherwise have played for the Japanese national team. As early as April 2017, Ohtani publicly expressed an interest in switching to Major League Baseball for the 2018 season . In December 2017, the free agent Ohtani was courted by the MLB teams with high bonus payments. The Texas Rangers , the New York Yankees , the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners, among others, offered him a signing bonus of over 3 million dollars. Eventually, however, Ohtani decided to sign with the Los Angeles Angels .

Los Angeles Angels

On December 9, 2017, Ohtani signed a professional contract with the Los Angeles Angels in the National League for 6 years. For signing the contract, Ohtani was awarded a $ 2.3 million bonus. In addition, the Angels paid his previous team, the Hokkaidō Nippon Ham Fighters , an amount of $ 20 million.

2018

In his first appearance in Major League Baseball on March 29, 2018 against the Oakland Athletics , Ohtani had his first Major League hit, a single on the first pitch. He made his debut as a pitcher on April 1, 2018, with six strikeouts in six innings, which gave him his first win . Two days later, on April 3, 2018, Ohtani hit the first home run of his MLB career, which was followed by two more that same week. He became the first Angels rookie to get 3 home runs in consecutive games. That achievement earned him his first American League Player of the Week award for the week of April 2-8. On May 2, 2018, he was also awarded the title of Rookie of the month in the American League for April. After Ohtani had to leave the game against the Kansas City Royals on June 6, 2018 after four innings due to blistering on the throwing hand, a strain of the outer ligament on the right elbow joint was found. After only a three-week breakdown was initially expected, it was announced on June 11th that Ohtani would have to undergo the Tommy John Surgery , which is common among pitchers , and would therefore be canceled until the beginning of the 2020 season. However, on July 3, 2018, he returned to the Angels' active squad in the position of Designated Hitter . On August 4, 2018, Ohtani scored two home runs and four hits in one game for the first time against the Cleveland Indians . The Angels also announced that Ohtani would return as a pitcher in the 2018 season. His first bullpen session since the elbow injury was scheduled for August 11, 2018.

Shohei Ohtani as pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.
Ohtani on the mound against the Seattle Mariners on May 6, 2018

On August 30, 2018, manager Mike Scioscia announced that Ohtani would return to the Mound on Sunday, September 2, 2018 after just under three months . In the game against the Houston Astros , however, he would only complete a limited number of pitches in order not to risk re-injury. One deployment per week is planned, as was the case before the injury - so five more pitching appearances would be possible in the 2018 season. Although Ohtani only completed 2 1/3 innings with 49 pitches against the Astros on September 2 , he scored two new milestones in the game: he became the only MLB player other than Babe Ruth in 1918 and 1919, who in one season 10 starts as a pitcher and at least 10 home runs as well as over 50 pitched innings and at least 15 home runs. After the performance at the strike against left-handed pitchers in the first half of the season was one of Ohtani’s biggest weaknesses, he hit his first home run against a left-hander against the Texas Rangers on September 5 . In the following game - also against the Texas Rangers - he got two home runs and four hits in one game for the second time in the season . However, the performance was overshadowed by news that he suffered another serious elbow injury. After the magnetic resonance imaging examination, the Angels team doctors again recommended treatment using Tommy John Surgery . Despite the treatment, he could be used as a designated hitter and outfielder in the 2019 season , as this would put less strain on the right elbow.

With his 19th home run on September 7, 2018 against the Chicago White Sox , Ohtani broke the record for most home runs by a Japanese-born rookie in the MLB. He overtook Kenji Johjima of the Seattle Mariners with 18 home runs in his rookie season 2006. Due to an outstanding offensive performance (.474 batting average , 1,263 slugging percentage , 10 RBI , 4 home runs, 1 triple , 2 stolen bases ) He was awarded the title of Player of the Week in the American League for the second time in the season in the week of September 3-9. He also received his second American League Rookie of the Month title for September . He finished the season with a total of 22 home runs, 61 RBI and a batting average of .285 at 326 at-bats . On October 1, 2018 immediately after the end of the regular season, to Ohtani underwent a doctor in Los Angeles of Tommy John Surgery that positively proceeded according to the statement of the doctor. The magazine Baseball Digest chose him with six out of seven votes for Rookie of the Year 2018. On 12 November 2018 was the Ohtani by Hideo Nomo (1995), Kazuhiro Sasaki (2000) and Ichiro Suzuki of the fourth Japanese player (2001), of the MLB Rookie of the Year Award won. 25 out of 30 baseball journalists eligible to vote voted him first. After Tim Salmon (1993) and Mike Trout (2012), Ohtani is the third Angels player to win the American League title.

2019

In the 2019 season, Ohtani did not return to the Angels' line up until May 7, ending his first game of the season without a hit. The first home run of the season he succeeded on May 13, 2019. On June 13, 2019 Ohtani became the first Japanese player in MLB to achieve a cycle (a single, double, triple and home run in one game).

Throwing and striking technique

Throwing technique

Ohtani is 1.93 meters tall and weighs 92 kilograms. He throws with his right hand and is mainly used as a starting pitcher , so he usually plays from the first inning. He throws with an overhand technique with which he achieves the following average and maximum speeds:

Throwing type Average

speed

maximum

speed

Fastball

(4-seam)

156 km / h 165 km / h
Sinker 157 km / h 157 km / h A
Splinter 138-142 km / h 142 km / h
Slider 132-135 km / h 135 km / h
Curveball 120 km / h 120 km / h
Shohei Ohtani baserunning the Seattle Mariners .

A In the 2018 season, Ohtani only used the sinker once. However, this was one of his fastest throws in the MLB.

Ohtani's Splitter, against whom only one opposing hit took place in the 2018 season, is considered particularly effective .

Stroke technique and base running

Ohtani is a left-handed batter . His striking technique is often compared to that of Bryce Harper , whom he and Ichirō Suzuki names as a personal role model. In addition, his above-average speed is often mentioned when baserunning: The time it takes from the batter's box to first base was measured to be 3.8 seconds. According to Statcast , his average sprint speed is around 8.6 meters per second, which puts him in the top quarter of MLB players.

Trivia

Ohtani as an advertising character in Japan.

In the capacity as Two Way Player - related to the use as a pitcher and batter - described sport media Ohtani often referred to as "Japanese Babe Ruth ." Ruth also dominated the sport in both positions, which no player succeeded in doing for almost 100 years after him. Because of these parallels, original items with Ohtani's handwritten signature rose in value shortly after his first use in the MLB. In the first week of the 2018 season, for example, numerous signed Topps baseball cards with his signature were sold for well over 6,000 US dollars . Within 32 hours of the cards (signed and unsigned) being launched on the Topps website, all 102,501 copies were sold out. A one-off Superfractor from his Rookie Card was estimated to have a collector's value of over $ 100,000. The card exceeded expectations, fetching $ 184,056 at auction, making it the most valuable trading card of 2018.

In a nationwide poll by the Japanese research institute Central Research Services Inc. in 2018, Ohtani was voted Japan's most popular athlete - followed by former Seattle Mariners - and New York Yankees outfielder Ichirō Suzuki .

Web links

Commons : Shohei Ohtani  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Maria Guardado: Angels officially welcome 2-way star Ohtani. In: mlb.com. December 9, 2017, accessed December 22, 2017 .
  2. ↑ Who is Shohei Ohtani? Everything you need to know . ( thefamouspeople.com [accessed May 27, 2018]).
  3. ↑ Who is Shohei Ohtani? Everything you need to know . ( thefamouspeople.com [accessed May 27, 2018]).
  4. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Japanese Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018 .
  5. ↑ Otani fireballs lead PL past CL in All-Star Game 2 . In: The Japan Times Online . July 19, 2014, ISSN  0447-5763 ( japantimes.co.jp [accessed May 15, 2018]).
  6. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Japanese Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Jason Coskrey: South Korea crushes US to win Premier 12 title . In: The Japan Times Online . November 21, 2015, ISSN  0447-5763 ( japantimes.co.jp [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  8. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Japanese Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018 .
  9. ↑ Jason Coskrey: Otani makes history with Best Nine selection at Both pitcher and DH . In: The Japan Times Online . November 25, 2016, ISSN  0447-5763 ( japantimes.co.jp [accessed May 15, 2018]).
  10. ↑ Jason Coskrey, Kaz Nagatsuka: Otani, Arai win MVP awards . In: The Japan Times Online . November 29, 2016, ISSN  0447-5763 ( japantimes.co.jp [accessed May 15, 2018]).
  11. ↑ Jason Coskrey: Otani delivers game-winning single in 10th as Fighters prevail in Game 3 . In: The Japan Times Online . October 26, 2016, ISSN  0447-5763 ( japantimes.co.jp [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  12. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Japanese Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018 .
  13. ↑ Shohei Ohtani will not play in WBC 2017. Accessed on May 15, 2018 (English).
  14. ↑ Shohei Ohtani could be in MLB in 2017. Retrieved on September 10, 2018 .
  15. ↑ Shohei Ohtani posted: Looking at every MLB team's chances of signing him . In: CBSSports.com . ( cbssports.com [accessed September 10, 2018]).
  16. ↑ Jeremy Venook: Shohei Ohtani Might Be the Most Underpaid Man in the World . In: The Atlantic . ( theatlantic.com [accessed May 15, 2018]).
  17. ↑ Angels' Ohtani 'never going to forget' 1st hit . In: ESPN.com . ( espn.com [accessed May 15, 2018]).
  18. ↑ Angels' Shohei Ohtani wins debut over A's. Retrieved May 15, 2018 .
  19. ↑ Ohtani homers in third straight game. Retrieved May 15, 2018 .
  20. ^ Ohtani, Taillon named Players of Week. Accessed September 10, 2018 .
  21. ^ Angels P / DH Shohei Ohtani named AL Rookie of the Month . In: FOX Sports . May 2, 2018 ( foxsports.com [accessed May 15, 2018]).
  22. ↑ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB: Shohei Ohtani from the Los Angeles Angels is out with an elbow injury . June 9, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed June 11, 2018]).
  23. ^ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB - Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani probably needs Tommy John Surgery . June 11, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed June 11, 2018]).
  24. ↑ Shohei Ohtani activated off disabled list. Accessed July 9, 2018 .
  25. ↑ Ohtani hits 2 homers, goes 4 for 5, Angels top Indians 7-4 . In: FOX Sports . August 3, 2018 ( foxsports.com [accessed August 8, 2018]).
  26. ↑ Shohei Ohtani hits two homers, goes 4-for-5 as Angels top Indians . In: The Japan Times Online . August 4, 2018, ISSN  0447-5763 ( japantimes.co.jp [accessed August 8, 2018]).
  27. ^ Angels' Shohei Ohtani to throw bullpen session Saturday . In: charlotteobserver . ( charlotteobserver.com [accessed August 8, 2018]).
  28. ↑ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB - Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani makes a pitching comeback against Houston Astros . August 31, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed August 31, 2018]).
  29. ↑ Shohei Ohtani wants to return to mound vs. Astros. Accessed August 31, 2018 .
  30. ↑ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB - Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani draws level with Babe Ruth on comeback . September 3, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed September 3, 2018]).
  31. ↑ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB - Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani hits the first home run against left-handers . September 5, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed September 6, 2018]).
  32. ↑ Ohtani hits 2 HRs hours after TJ recommendation . In: ESPN.com . ( espn.com [accessed September 6, 2018]).
  33. ↑ Sport1.de: MLB: Shohei Ohtani from Los Angeles Angels threatens a long break due to injury . In: Sport1.de . ( sport1.de [accessed on September 6, 2018]).
  34. ^ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB: Los Angeles Angels recommend Shohei Ohtani Tommy John Surgery . September 6, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed September 6, 2018]).
  35. ↑ How will Tommy John surgery impact Ohtani? In: ESPN.com . ( espn.co.uk [accessed September 6, 2018]).
  36. ↑ Shohei Ohtani keeps making MLB history, even as he weighs having Tommy John surgery . In: USA TODAY . ( usatoday.com [accessed September 8, 2018]).
  37. ↑ Shohei Ohtani sets Japanese rookie HR record. Retrieved September 8, 2018 .
  38. ^ Angels' Shohei Ohtani named AL Player of the Week. Accessed September 10, 2018 .
  39. ^ Ohtani, Harper earn Player of the Week honors. Accessed September 10, 2018 .
  40. ↑ Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto win Rookies of Month. Retrieved October 3, 2018 .
  41. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Stats, Fantasy & News. Retrieved October 3, 2018 (American English).
  42. ↑ Shohei Ohtani's Tommy John surgery successful. Retrieved October 9, 2018 .
  43. ↑ Shohei Ohtani named AL Rookie of the Year by Baseball Digest . In: FOX Sports . October 31, 2018 ( foxsports.com [accessed November 6, 2018]).
  44. ↑ Ohtani tops Yanks duo for AL Rookie of the Year . In: ESPN.com . ( espn.co.uk [accessed November 13, 2018]).
  45. ↑ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Shohei Ohtani are Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year 2018 . November 13, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed November 13, 2018]).
  46. ↑ Perform Media Deutschland GmbH: MLB: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Shohei Ohtani are Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year 2018 . November 13, 2018 ( spox.com [accessed November 13, 2018]).
  47. ↑ Associated Press: How Shohei Ohtani fared in first game back with Angels. In: New York Post. May 8, 2019, accessed June 14, 2019 .
  48. ↑ Sho Time once again: Ohtani's 1st HR a BLAST. Retrieved June 14, 2019 .
  49. ↑ Shohei Ohtani becomes the first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle. Retrieved June 14, 2019 (American English).
  50. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Stats, Fantasy & News. Retrieved September 21, 2018 (American English).
  51. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Stats, Fantasy & News. Retrieved September 21, 2018 (American English).
  52. ^ Otani eyes MLB move after next season . In: The Japan Times Online . December 5, 2016, ISSN  0447-5763 ( japantimes.co.jp [accessed September 21, 2018]).
  53. ↑ BrooksBaseball.net Player Card: Shohei Ohtani. Retrieved September 21, 2018 .
  54. ↑ Shohei Ohtani's splitter is absolutely devastating. Retrieved September 21, 2018 .
  55. ^ Shohei Otani: the Most Interesting Prospect in Baseball . In: Astros 247 . ( scout.com [accessed September 21, 2018]).
  56. ↑ BrooksBaseball.net Player Card: Shohei Ohtani. Retrieved September 21, 2018 .
  57. ↑ Shohei Ohtani's splitter is absolutely devastating. Retrieved September 21, 2018 .
  58. ↑ Weekend slate helps set MLB postseason stage. Retrieved September 21, 2018 .
  59. ↑ Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani could be double threat in big leagues . In: Los Angeles Times . ISSN  0458-3035 ( latimes.com [accessed September 21, 2018]).
  60. ↑ How fast is Shohei Ohtani? Faster than you think . In: ESPN.com . ( espn.com [accessed September 21, 2018]).
  61. ↑ Japan's Babe Ruth is headed to the Majors . ( cbsnews.com [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  62. ↑ Shohei Ohtani FAQ: What you need to know about the Babe Ruth of Japan's move to the majors . In: ESPN.com . ( espn.com [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  63. ↑ Big Read: Meet Shohei Otani, the next Babe Ruth - Sportsnet.ca . In: Sportsnet.ca . ( sportsnet.ca [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  64. ↑ Why Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani is being compared to Babe Ruth . In: Boston.com . November 29, 2017 ( boston.com [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  65. ^ Ohtani card sells for $ 6,725 as market rises . In: ESPN.com . ( espn.com [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  66. ↑ Scott Polacek: Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card Sells for $ 6,725 as His Memorabilia Market Soars . In: Bleacher Report . ( bleacherreport.com [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  67. ↑ 'Never seen anything like it': Shohei Ohtani card sales soar . In: New York Post . April 11, 2018 ( nypost.com [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  68. ↑ Rare Shohei Ohtani baseball card valued at $ 100K featured at Cleveland convention (videos) . In: cleveland.com . ( cleveland.com [accessed August 8, 2018]).
  69. ↑ Shohei Ohtani Superfractor Sells for $ 184,056 . In: Sports Collectors Daily . September 21, 2018 ( sportscollectorsdaily.com [accessed September 21, 2018]).
  70. ↑ KYODO NEWS: Shohei Ohtani most popular athlete in Japan: nationwide survey . In: Kyodo News + . ( kyodonews.net [accessed July 10, 2018]).
  71. ^ Ohtani most popular athlete in Japan: nationwide survey . In: Mainichi Daily News . June 1, 2018 ( mainichi.jp [accessed July 10, 2018]).
personal data
SURNAME Ohtani, Shohei
ALTERNATIVE NAMES 大谷 翔 平 (Japanese); Ōtani, Shōhei
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Japanese baseball player
DATE OF BIRTH 5th July 1994
PLACE OF BIRTH Ōshū , Iwate Prefecture