Nationality: Japan
Inducted: 2026
Notable Record(s):
- Most times safely reaching base in a Major League Baseball game
- First player to start the MLB All-Star Game as a pitcher and a designated hitter
An ICON because...
One of Japan’s most high-profile athletes, Shohei Ohtani is a powerhouse.
Originally from Iwate Prefecture, Japan, he dedicated himself to baseball right after high school.
Kicking off his career in 2013, Shohei was soon recognized as a rare two-way player. He cultivated an ever-growing international fame, and made waves both as a hitter and a pitcher playing for the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) and MLB (Major League Baseball), becoming a star of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
True to his nickname, 'Shotime', the two-time World Series champ proved that passion, hard work and determination are the backbone of a record-breaking career.
In 2024, he became the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season.
Interestingly, the same record-breaking ball was sold on the 30th of October of the same year for a jaw-dropping $4,392,000 (£3,289,138), becoming the most expensive baseball sold at auction.
