Why baseball legend Shohei Ohtani is a "unicorn" AND a Guinness World Records ICON
Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani is such a rare talent that an opposing manager once described him as a “unicorn”. Able to play at the highest level as both a pitcher and a designated hitter, Shohei is a two-way threat unseen in the sport since the days of the legendary Babe Ruth. In 2024 and 2025, he inspired the Los Angeles Dodgers to back-to-back World Series championships with a series of record-breaking feats that confirmed his status as one the greatest players in baseball history.
Here’s a round-up of the records that have made “Shotime” a Guinness World Records ICON:
In 2021, Shohei became the first player to start the MLB All-Star Game as a pitcher and a position player.
During the 2024 MLB season, he racked up 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases – a statistical feat known as the first 50/50 MLB season. Such was the excitement around the record, the baseball Shohei hit for his 50th home run went on to sell for $4.39 m (£3.38 m), making it the most expensive baseball sold at auction.
On the way to his 50/50 milestone, Shohei also achieved the fewest games to achieve a 40/40 MLB season, reaching 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in just 126 games.
Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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In Game Four of the 2025 National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Shohei served up what MLB.com described as “the most impressive performance we have ever seen in the postseason – perhaps in any game.” He struck out 10 batters, pitching six shoutout innings, and hit three home runs. This equalled the record for the most home runs in a postseason MLB game.
In Game Three of the 2025 World Series, Shohei hit two home runs and two doubles against the Toronto Blue Jays. This matched the record for the most extra base hits in a World Series game – four – which had stood for 119 years. Shohei also equalled the mark for the most times safely reaching base in an MLB game – nine.
Shohei on the field with his dog Decoy. Credit: Armando Arorizo/Prensa Internacional via ZUMA/Shutterstock
Header image: Marta Lavandier/Associated Press/Alamy