The youngest of three children, Shohei Ohtani, was born to Kayoko and Tory Ohtani in Oshu, Iwate, Japan in July 1994. Today, the 28-year-old Shohei Ohtani, a magical two-way wonder, has taken the world of MLB by surprise since his arrival in 2018. Moreover, Ohtani, nicknamed “Shotime,” is now eyeballing a whopping $500 million contract as he enters free agency post the conclusion of the 2023 season.

However, did you know that long before Ohtani created turmoil in Anaheim and was named the American League MVP in 2021, he was a swimmer who played baseball as a hobby only?

Shohei Ohtani had a great swimming career in his school days

Despite having the prized opportunity to represent any powerhouse high school team from a metropolitan city in Japan, young Shohei selected his hometown high school, Hanamaki Higashi High School, in Iwate. However, back in high school, Ohtani competed as a swimmer. His coach particularly focused on workouts that encompassed swimming.

But as time passed, thanks to his father’s influence, Ohtani picked baseball over potentially representing Japan in the Olympics. Notably, Ohtani’s coach, Hiroshi Sasaki, claimed that the eventual American League MVP was the fastest swimmer on his team, and “could have made the Olympics.”

Shohei Ohtani’s father was a baseball player

From young Shohei’s early days, his father, Toru Ohtani, realized his son’s aptitude and love for the game. Shohei, known as “a kid who lives, eats and breathes baseball” in Japan, was coached by his father during his early baseball days.

Toru Ohtani, on the other hand, was an amateur-level baseball player who played in the Japanese Industrial League representing Mitsubishi. Toru played as an outfielder for a corporate non-professional baseball team before his baseball legacy was continued by his son Shohei.

Shohei Ohtani considered baseball only as a hobby

Shohei Ohtani, at a very young age, displayed immense talent while playing baseball. Then itself, his eventual greatness, was already a writing on the wall.

While Ohtani spent long hours playing catch and watching baseball on the television alongside his father, it was never considered anything more than a hobby for young Shohei. In fact, Ohtani spent longer hours swimming.

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Little did he know…

Shohei Ohtani was the fastest pitcher

Japan’s Babe Ruth – Shohei Ohtani’s baseball journey commenced at Hanamaki Higashi High School when he first caught the attention of scouts after touching the mid-90s with ease and eventually reaching 99mph at only 19 years old.

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At 99mph, Ohtani recorded the fastest pitch of a Japanese high school pitcher. Eventually, aged 19, the Hokkaidō Nippon-Ham Fighters from the NPB signed Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani’s father shaped his baseball career

After being introduced to baseball at a young age, Shohei started considering baseball as simply a hobby. However, after being inspired by his father, who played as an outfielder for Mitsubishi, Ohtani made the decision to pursue baseball. And the rest, as we know, is history…

Do you think Ohtani would’ve achieved greatness had he picked a career in swimming over baseball? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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