Amidst a sea of talent, Shohei Ohtani is undoubtedly the biggest free agent in 2023. This fact remains unchangeable even though he can’t pitch in 2024. The two-way wonder’s unparalleled skills and achievements have found a strong fanbase in MLB. But the West is not the stage where Ohtani showed his talents for the first time. Before coming to Major League Baseball, he stirred up a storm in the Japanese world of yakyu.

In his 6 years in the U.S., Shotime has been hailed as Japan’s Babe Ruth for humungous talent on both sides of the ball. But how did this journey start? How did an athletic kid from Iwate Prefecture in Japan become the yakyu shonen?

Shohei Ohtani’s First Professional Baseball Journey

With a talent in baseball prevailing from childhood, Shohei Ohtani could have been a part of any high school baseball team in big cities. But he chose to join Hanamaki Higashi High School in the Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan. The reason was quite apparent. He wanted to follow his idol Hanamaki Higashi alumnus Yusei Kikuchi, who presently pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 2012 World Junior Championship was the turning point of Ohtani’s career. The two-way phenom was a first-round pick in Japan in 2012. With 16 strikeouts, 8 walks, 5 hits, and five runs in 10 1/3 IP, he drew the attention of Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. They selected him for the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft in 2012. Playing for the NPB for around 5 years, the Japanese star set foot in the USA in 2017, looking to begin his journey in the majors.

Shotime’s MLB entry was interesting. All 30 teams approached him, but finally, he signed with the Angels to make his MLB debut in 2018. Though the star has achieved multiple awards and reached milestones throughout these years, he still lacks the elusive World Series victory. Since his debut, this is the first time the pitcher has become a free agent.

As a highly coveted player yet again, Ohtani will probably create another record as insiders suspect he will get a record number of offers from the MLB teams this offseason.

Shohei Ohtani Will Have At Least 10 Teams Chasing Him With Serious Intentions

The 2023 offseason is all about the Japanese two-way wonder. Speculations surround his next landing spot as analysts and fans favor Los Angeles, but the Angels’ cross-town rivals this time. Amidst these conjectures, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale pointed out another record that the superstar pitcher will probably make.

“Show Me the Money”: Top Baseball Personality Reveals the Mets’ Path to Signing Shohei Ohtani Amidst a Fierce Free Agency Battle

Until 2023, the highest offer a player received during a free agency never crossed three hundred million. He proved his point by using Aaron Judge, Manny Machado, and Bryce Harper. But this year, per Nightengale, Ohtani will have at least 10 teams chasing after him. It can even rise to 20, each ready to whip out their checkbooks for an offer expected to exceed $500 million.

The race is on and the nation awaits Shohei Ohtani news with bated breaths.

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