Shohei Ohtani watching the ball after hitting a home run for LA Dodgers. Source: Fox Sports

Shohei Ohtani is changing how we think about baseball. Since coming from Japan in 2018, Ohtani has caught the world’s attention with his rare mix of skill, discipline, and showmanship. Fans in the United States and Japan follow his every move, and each season he sets new standards. Playing as both a designated hitter and a starting pitcher isn’t supposed to be possible at this level, but Ohtani makes it look natural. Now, with a $700 million contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers, he is the future of baseball. His story is about more than stats or records. It’s about what’s possible when one athlete refuses to choose between dreams.

From Japan to the Major League

Shohei Ohtani’s baseball journey began in Ōshū, Iwate, Japan, where he quickly gained attention as a teenager for his unusual dream—he wanted to become both a top pitcher and a full-time hitter. Most people in professional baseball believed that was impossible. In 2012, he was drafted by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), despite saying he wanted to go straight to MLB. The Fighters convinced him to stay in Japan by promising him a chance to do both. They followed through, allowing Ohtani to pitch and hit regularly, a rare move even in NPB. Over the next five seasons, he shocked traditionalists by thriving as a two-way player. In 2016, he won the Pacific League MVP, throwing a 1.86 ERA and hitting .322 with 22 home runs. He was no longer just a prospect, he was becoming a phenomenon.

Shohei Ohtani in his Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters uniform as manager Hideki Kuriyama puts a cap on his head at a hotel in Sapporo, on Dec. 25, 2012. Spurce: Mainichi.jp / Maiko Umeda

By the time Ohtani declared for MLB in late 2017, he was already a household name in Japan and a subject of intense interest in North America. The Los Angeles Angels promised Ohtani the chance to be a full-time two-way player, and he signed with them despite richer offers elsewhere. In 2018, he delivered right away. He homered in his first week, posted a 3.31 ERA across 10 pitching starts, and won AL Rookie of the Year. Yet the excitement was followed by a major setback as he tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), needing Tommy John surgery. For most players, that would have meant giving up one side of their game. But for Ohtani, it became part of a long-term plan to return better on both fronts.

His comeback wasn’t quick or easy. Between 2019 and 2020, Ohtani faced limitations, inconsistency, and questions about whether the two-way experiment would ever truly work in the MLB. But in 2021, he answered every doubt with one of the greatest seasons baseball has ever seen. He hit 46 home runs, stole 26 bases, and posted a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts, earning a unanimous AL MVP. That year, he became the first player in history to be selected as both a pitcher and hitter in the All-Star Game. What began as an unusual career choice in Japan had now become the blueprint for a new kind of player, and a vision that had finally caught up with reality.

A Statistically Impossible Career

Shohei Ohtani’s statistical impact on Major League Baseball is unprecedented because he doesn’t just play two roles, he excels at both. As a pitcher, he’s consistently delivered ace-level performances, featuring fastballs that touch 100 mph and a splitter that leaves hitters guessing. In 2022, he recorded a 15–9 record with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts across 166 innings, numbers that placed him firmly in Cy Young conversations. His pitch selection, command, and swing-and-miss rates rival those of the league’s best full-time pitchers. Even in 2023, before being sidelined due to a second UCL injury, he led the league in several advanced pitching metrics. What makes all of this astonishing is that he does it while also functioning as one of the most feared hitters in baseball.

Shohei Ohtani delivers during his pitching debut for the Dodgers against the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Source: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

At the plate, Ohtani has rewritten what a designated hitter can be. In 2023, he batted .304 with 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, and led the league in slugging and OPS before his season was cut short. His expected stats in exit velocity, barrel percentage, and expected slugging place him among the top 1% of hitters since 2021. But beyond traditional metrics, Ohtani entered uncharted history by becoming the first player in MLB to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. Cementing his place in the newly founded and exclusive 50–50 club, a record that blends pure strength with elite speed. No one, not even power-speed stars like Alex Rodriguez or Alfonso Soriano, ever reached both benchmarks in the same year. Rodriguez posted 46 steals but fell eight homers short in 1998, while Soriano’s 46 home runs in 2006 were paired with just 41 steals. In 2023, Ronald Acuña Jr. also flirted with the mark but ultimately finished with 41 home runs.

No other player offers this kind of output, and no statistical model has ever needed to account for someone like him before. Ohtani’s total value to a team can best be understood through his combined Wins Above Replacement (WAR). In 2021, he posted a WAR of 9.1, which he nearly repeated in 2023 with a 9.0 mark, despite missing the season’s final stretch. These numbers exceed the single-season totals of most MVPs, yet Ohtani achieves them while dividing his time between the mound and the plate.

Ohtani’s Impact on Baseball’s Globalization

Shohei Ohtani’s rise to international superstardom has done more than rewrite MLB stat sheets, it has expanded baseball’s reach across cultures and continents. In Japan, he is a national icon, and his performances regularly make front-page news. In the U.S., he has brought a new wave of global attention to a league that has struggled to maintain international relevance in the face of growing global football and basketball markets. Merchandise sales, TV ratings, and digital highlights involving Ohtani consistently outperform league averages. He is not only a superstar for the Angels or Dodgers—he is a global ambassador for baseball. His success has reignited American interest in Asian baseball talent while inspiring young athletes across Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to believe they can thrive in MLB on their own terms.

Shohei Ohtani before a baseball game for LA Angeles in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Source: AP Photo

Ohtani’s presence has also pushed Major League Baseball to invest more in cross-cultural storytelling and outreach. His multilingual media appearances, respectful demeanor, and work ethic have made him a bridge between two very different sporting cultures. The MLB has capitalized on his appeal by increasing game broadcasts in Japan, hosting more youth outreach programs, and developing digital content tailored for Asian audiences. His clean image, humility, and discipline resonate deeply with Japanese cultural values, while his power and competitiveness appeal to North American fans. For many, he represents a modern version of sports diplomacy by uniting audiences who might otherwise not share a common fandom. The 2023 World Baseball Classic, where Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to clinch Japan’s victory, was more than a highlight which became a symbolic passing of the global baseball torch.

Off the field, Ohtani's influence is just as strong. His endorsements with global brands like New Balance and Seiko have reached audiences well beyond baseball’s typical demographic. Social media clips of his home runs, press interviews, and locker room moments go viral across languages and time zones. He has inspired not just athletes, but entertainers, students, and fans who see his story as one of patience, vision, and determination. In an age of declining interest in baseball among younger U.S. audiences, Shohei Ohtani has become the league’s most compelling answer to that challenge.

The Historic Dodgers Deal

Shohei Ohtani went six-for-six against the Marlins with 10 RBIs, three homers, two doubles, two steals and four runs. Source: Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire

Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023 became the richest deal in professional sports history, but its unique structure made it even more remarkable. Ohtani agreed to defer $680 million of that total, accepting just $2 million annually during the contract term. This strategic move allowed the Dodgers to free up payroll space to strengthen their roster without facing luxury tax penalties. Rather than simply maximizing his earnings, Ohtani prioritized long-term team success, helping build a championship-caliber squad around him. The deal immediately elevated the Dodgers' international brand power, triggered record-breaking jersey sales, and solidified Ohtani as the centerpiece of a team already stacked with stars like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

For Ohtani, the Dodgers represent an ideal environment for legacy-building for both on and off the field. Playing in Los Angeles gives him access to a large Japanese fan base, global media visibility, and a front office that embraces both analytics and player longevity. Even though he didn’t pitch during the 2024 season while recovering from his UCL injury, the long-term vision behind the contract makes clear that the Dodgers see him as a generational investment, not just a headline-maker. In turn, Ohtani is betting on the organization to support his pursuit of history. This wasn’t just the biggest deal in sports, it was a calculated partnership between a once-in-a-century athlete and one of baseball’s most forward-thinking franchises.

Shohei and the Future of Baseball

Shohei Ohtani’s story is far from its endpoint, and yesterday’s return to the mound confirmed that his impact is ongoing and evolving. After nearly two years away recovering from his UCL surgery, Ohtani pitched one inning for the Dodgers, surrendering one run on two hits and reaching 100.2 mph with his fastball—a clear reminder that he remains a genuine two-way force. Even a brief outing sparked record MLB.TV viewership, demonstrating that he still commands global attention whenever he takes the mound. This isn’t just a comeback, it’s a signal that his resilience and elite skills transcend expectations, and that his career continues to rewrite the standards of professional baseball.

Source : Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Looking ahead, Ohtani’s blend of power, speed, and pitching talent reshapes how teams build for the future. His presence on the mound adds crucial depth to a Dodgers rotation that has been beleaguered by injuries, and his bat remains one of the most fearsome in the league. With yesterday’s outing confirming his ability to return to elite pitching, the long-discussed return to a full two-way role feels more attainable than ever. As the 2025 season unfolds, the big questions aren’t just whether he can stay healthy, but how far he can push the boundaries of dual-role performance. From stat models to roster strategies, Ohtani is changing the game in real time. And if this is just the beginning of his next chapter, there may not be any limits left in baseball.

Shohei Ohtani has already changed how we view baseball, but how much further can he go? Do you think more players will follow in his two-way footsteps, or is he truly one of one? Who else comes close to this level of impact in any sport?

Let me know what you think in the comments.

By Zenith Rathod

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