by Megan Garcia
Today marks 365 days since the Dodgers announced the signing of Shohei Ohtani.
From Dec. 11, 2023 (and even two days before when he announced on Instagram that he decided to sign with the Dodgers) till now, it has been a historic year for one of baseball’s most incredible players ever.
Here’s a look back at some of the most important moments in that timespan:
The Introductory Press Conference
Ohtani’s introductory press conference as a Dodger took place in Centerfield Plaza at Dodger Stadium on Dec. 14, 2023.
The nearly half-hour press conference drew an audience of reporters in the hundreds and 70 million viewers watching on screens, according to MLB Network.
“As you saw, my contract is 10 years,” Ohtani said that day. “I’m not sure how long I’m going to be able to play the game, so I do prioritize winning — that’s on the top of my list. And that will probably never change. And that was one of the reasons why I chose this team.”
The First Day of Spring Training
The gates to Camelback Ranch opened on Feb. 9 and signaled Ohtani’s first official day in a Dodger uniform. Donning a Dodger cap, sweatshirt and shorts — Ohtani in Dodger blue was a sight to be seen. Media members covering the superstar for English-speaking and Japanese-speaking audiences clamored around him ahead of his first team workout.
Ohtani stated his approach for his first season with the Dodgers: “I’m really taking it as though I’m in the first year of my career.”
Ohtani Debuts During Opening Day in Korea
It wasn’t a home game for the Dodgers, but the cheers echoed throughout Gocheok Sky Dome as Ohtani’s name was announced in the starting lineup on March 20. He emerged from the visiting dugout to partake in the Opening Day festivities for the Seoul Series against the Padres.
His RBI single in the eighth inning capped off the Dodgers’ comeback to give them their first victory of the 2024 campaign. Ohtani went 2-for-5 in his Dodger debut with one hit coming off fellow countryman and Padres starter Yu Darvish.
Ohtani’s First Home Run at Dodger Stadium
Eight games had come and gone, and Ohtani had yet to hit a home run for the Dodgers. It was the longest stretch in his career to start a season without a long ball. Back in 2022, as a member of the Angels, Ohtani played seven games before he hit his first homer of the season.
But on April 3 against the Giants, Ohtani hit his mark.
Ohtani connected on a 3–1 sinker from reliever Taylor Rogers and the pop off the bat was telling. The Dodger Stadium crowd was awed at the distance as the ball traveled 430 feet to the Right Field Pavilion. The stadium lights flickered in celebration and Ohtani experienced his first sunflower seed shower at the dugout entrance.
His solo homer was also the difference maker — it extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5–3 in the seventh, giving them enough of a cushion as the Giants scored a run in the eighth.
Ohtani Breaks the Dodger Record for Homers by a Japanese-Born Player
Once he broke Hideki Matsui’s Major League record of 175 home runs by a Japanese-born player on April 21, another milestone was nearing for Ohtani. The designated hitter only needed three more home runs to unseat Dave Roberts for the most homers by a Japanese-born player in Dodger franchise history.
In 2004, Roberts set the franchise record when he clubbed his seventh long ball during his Dodger tenure on June 5. Nearly two decades later, on May 4 against the Braves, Ohtani became the new record holder.
The Dodgers were leading the Braves 2–0 when Ohtani stepped up to the plate in the third for his second at-bat against starter Bryce Elder. A fastball up and inside the strike zone resulted in a long ball to right field for Ohtani’s eighth since joining the Dodgers.
Ohtani needed 24 games to set the new franchise record compared to Roberts’ 263 games when he did it. Leading up to the anticipated record-setting home run, Ohtani gifted his skipper a toy model Porsche to honor Roberts’ previous record.
Ohtani Homers in the All-Star Game
Ohtani was selected to his fourth career All-Star Game in his first season with the Dodgers. He was voted to be the National League’s starting designated hitter after he led the NL in home runs (29), runs (75), slugging percentage (.635), weighted on-base average (.432) and wRC+ (182) in the first half.
Ohtani batted second in the National League starting lineup on July 16, behind leadoff hitter Ketel Marte and ahead №3 hitter Trea Turner. He walked in his first at-bat against American League starter Corbin Burnes in the first.
Then, in the third inning, Ohtani was due up with runners on first and second without an out. After two consecutive balls from reliever Tanner Houck, Ohtani clubbed a three-run homer on a splitter that was left over the middle of the plate. It powered the National League to an early 3–0 lead over the American League.
Despite three previous appearances in the All-Star Game with the American League, Ohtani had never hit a home run in the Midsummer Classic. He sent his first 400 feet to right field with an exit velocity of 103.7 mph. Ohtani went 1-for-2 in the 2024 All-Star Game with three RBI.
Ohtani Joins the 40/40 Club
Ohtani entered the exclusive 40/40 club in grand fashion on Aug. 23 at Dodger Stadium. He swiped his 40th base in the fourth inning against the Rays, leaving him only one long ball away from history.
The game was tied 3–3 when the Dodgers entered the bottom of the ninth and another Ohtani at-bat was uncertain as he was due up sixth in the inning. But after Will Smith, Tommy Edman and Max Muncy got on base — an at-bat by Ohtani was coming to fruition.
With two outs, Ohtani needed one pitch from reliever Colin Poche — a slider down and away — to blast a grand slam into the Right Field Pavilion. Ohtani was now the sixth player in Major League history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single season.
He accomplished the feat in 126 games, the fastest among the other members:
– Alfonso Soriano, 2006 Nationals: 147 games
– Jose Conseco, 1988 Athletics: 151 games
– Ronald Acuña Jr., 2023 Braves: 152 games
– Alex Rodriguez, 1998 Mariners: 153 games
– Barry Bonds, 1996 Giants: 158 games
Ohtani Starts the 50/50 Club
Ohtani starting the 50/50 club quickly evolved into a matter of when not if. But how it transpired was unimaginable.
He officially started the 50/50 club after he stole his 50th base in the first and hit his 50th homer in the sixth on Sept. 19. But he filled the scorecard with each at-bat against the Marlins. He went 6-for-6 with three home runs, two stolen bases, two doubles, four runs and 10 RBI, racking up 17 total bases.
Ohtani amassed several milestones in a one-of-a-kind game:
– Set the single-game Dodger franchise RBI record (10)
– Set the single-season Dodger franchise home run record (50)
– Set the single-season LA Dodger extra-base hits record (92)
– First career three-homer game
– First game in Major League history with six hits, three home runs, two stolen bases and 10 RBI
Ohtani Breaks Ichiro Suzuki’s Stolen Base Record
With only three games left in the regular season, there was still one more record for Ohtani to break. Ohtani stole his №57 base on Sept. 27 in Colorado, setting the Major League record for most by a Japanese-born player in a single season.
Ichiro Suzuki — who Ohtani admired growing up in Japan — set the record in 2001 with the Mariners with 56 stolen bases.
Ohtani Hits His First Career Postseason Home Run
After seven regular seasons, Ohtani was finally in the postseason. The sights and sounds of October baseball were new to the 30-year-old, but he wasn’t nervous about what was ahead.
After flying out in his first at-bat against Padres starter Dylan Cease in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 5, Ohtani let it all out against the right-hander in the second.
He smashed a fastball and tossed his bat toward the visiting dugout as he watched the three-run homer fly to right field. His emotions matched the crowd’s as he yelled in excitement while he ran the bases.
His first postseason home run tied the game 3–3, eventually positioning the Dodgers to pull off a comeback.
World Champion
It was mission accomplished when the Dodgers beat the Yankees to win the World Series in five games. Ohtani, injured his shoulder in Game 2 in Los Angeles attempting to steal second base, but was back in the lineup for Game 3 in New York. Though he had two hits in the series, his presence in the lineup and perseverance through what was later learned to be a labrum tear stand out.
Ohtani is the Unanimous National League MVP
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Only one player has been the unanimous Most Valuable Player three times in their career — and there’s still much more to describe Ohtani’s accomplishments in 2024.
He became the second player to win the MVP award in the American and National League, while also becoming the first designated hitter to be crowned with the recognition. It also marked his second consecutive MVP award after he won it in 2023 with the Angels.
Ohtani finished the season atop the National League in home runs (54), runs (134), RBI (130), OBP (.390), slugging (.646), wOBA (.431), wRC+ (181) and fWAR (9.1).
One year of Shohei Ohtani: From becoming a Dodger to an MVP award was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.