What does Shohei Ohtani still have to accomplish? This question looms large as he continues to redefine baseball excellence. On Wednesday night, Ohtani secured a significant milestone in his career by winning his first World Series title, a feat that had previously evaded him.
The two-way superstar played a pivotal role in leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to victory over the New York Yankees in five games. Despite a shoulder injury that hampered his performance in Game 2, Ohtani’s impact on the series was undeniable, even though he finished with a batting average of just .105, going 2-for-19 at the plate.
Ohtani’s remarkable season laid the groundwork for this achievement. He made history by becoming the first player in Major League Baseball to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, solidifying his status as the likely National League MVP. His stellar performance in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), where he batted .364 with two home runs, further showcased his talent.
At just 30 years old, Ohtani is already making a strong case for being one of the greatest players in MLB history. He is set to return to pitching in 2025 after recovering from elbow surgery, which adds another layer of anticipation to his already illustrious career.
Ohtani’s journey is guided by a unique list of goals he crafted during his high school years in Japan. This list outlines his aspirations at various ages, providing insight into his ambitions both on and off the field. The goals range from professional milestones to personal achievements, and they serve as a roadmap for his future endeavors.
Here’s a glance at Ohtani’s goal list:
• Age 18: Join an MLB team
• Age 19: Master English and reach AAA
• Age 20: Called up to the Majors, make 1.5 billion JPY (translates to $13 million in US)
• Age 21: Starting rotation, 16 wins
• Age 22: Win the Cy Young Award
• Age 23: Member of Japan WBC team
• Age 24: Throw a no-hitter and 25 wins
• Age 25: Throw fastest pitch in the world 175 kph (or 108 mph)
• Age 26: Win the World Series and get married
• Age 27: Member of Japan WBC team & MVP
• Age 28: 1st son is born
• Age 29: Throw 2nd no-hitter
• Age 30: Get most wins by a Japanese pitcher
• Age 31: 1st daughter is born
• Age 32: Win 2nd World Series
• Age 33: 2nd son is born
• Age 34: Win 3rd World Series
• Age 35: Member of Japan WBC team
• Age 36: Break the strikeout record?
• Age 37: 1st son starts baseball
• Age 38: Stats drop, start to think about retirement
• Age 39: Decide to retire at end of next season
• Age 40: Throw no-hitter in my very last game
• Age 41: Return to Japan
• Age 42: Introduce the American system to Japan?
Thus far, Ohtani has achieved six of the goals on his list. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and marked another milestone by earning $30 million in arbitration with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. His selection to Japan’s World Baseball Classic team in 2023 culminated in an MVP award, showcasing his two-way skills in leading his country to victory against the USA.
Ohtani had initially predicted he would win his first World Series at age 26, but he did marry Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka just before the 2024 offseason, aligning with his goal of winning a championship shortly after tying the knot.
While his achievements are predominantly seen in batting and base running, many of Ohtani’s aspirations center around pitching. He gained recognition in high school for his remarkable pitching skills, throwing a record-setting 99 mph pitch.
As Ohtani gears up for his return to the mound in 2025, some of his pitching goals appear attainable. Achieving 16 or more wins in a season seems feasible, given his career-high of 15 wins in 2022. However, reaching 25 wins in a single season presents a significant challenge, as the last pitcher to achieve this was Bob Welch in 1990.
Throwing a pitch clocked at 108 mph also seems ambitious. His fastest recorded pitch during the 2023 World Baseball Classic was 102 mph. For context, the modern era record is held by Aroldis Chapman at 105.8 mph.
Setting the strikeout record appears unlikely, especially with his retirement planned at 40. Ohtani has accumulated 608 strikeouts so far, still far from Nolan Ryan’s record of 5,714, which took 27 years to achieve.
Some of Ohtani’s other pitching goals remain realistic. If he averages nine wins per season over the next decade, he could surpass Hideo Nomo’s record for the most wins by a Japanese pitcher. Additionally, finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2022 indicates he has the potential to win that accolade in the future.
Ohtani’s professional aspirations also include winning additional World Series titles. Following the Dodgers’ recent victory, he may need to adjust his goals to reflect this new reality.
With nine seasons remaining on his 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, Ohtani has the potential to achieve remarkable feats. If he were to win a title in each of those seasons, he would undoubtedly be regarded as one of the greatest players in baseball history.
