The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar, Shohei Ohtani, is all set to showcase his power in the Tokro Series. While he has achieved the MVP award three times, that’s not the only value he has in his life. There are people who have been rooting for him since his childhood. His parents, Toru and Kayoko Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers in 2023 for a massive $700 contract. But before moving to Major League Baseball, he was born in Japan on July 5, 1994. Ohtani’s parents stood by his side from the early days; his father played a major role in letting Ohtani into baseball. Both Toru and Kayoko Ohtani raised their athlete son well. And now, Ohtani is one of the best MLB players.
Who are Shohei Ohtani’s parents? Meet Toru and Kayoko Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani’s father gave a lot of time to his son, coaching him, and that’s what sets him apart. Toru Ohtani is a former baseball player himself. He was an outfielder at the amateur level for a team that was mainly sponsored by corporations. However, his baseball career was cut short at just 25 years of age, owing to a shoulder injury. It was a major setback, as Toru Ohtani started working at a Mitsubishi factory.
But that didn’t stop him from ensuring that his son achieves bigger success in Major League Baseball.
Meanwhile, Shohei’s mother, Kayoko Ohtani, also played a major role in his career. She was a professional badminton player, however, never focused on playing at major levels. Kayoko played at amateur levels just like her husband; however, she had a long-lasting time there. Kayoko’s good height and years of experience and skills often surprised her son, as he identified some similarities in movements in both baseball and badminton.
Mr. and Mrs. Ohtani played crucial roles in maintaining their son’s legacy.
How did they play a part in creating Ohtani’s legacy? All to know
During his childhood, Shohei Ohtani was trained by his father. He was just in elementary school at the time, but that shaped his idea of how he should proceed in his career. And that certainly paid off! Toru used to give a lot of time, working with him on the areas he needed to improve. Toru Ohtani even monitored his son’s abilities, identifying the areas of strengths and weaknesses and then, refining them consistently. But that doesn’t end here!
Shohei’s mother, Kayoko Ohtani, played an equally important role. While she played badminton, she took her son to the courts, allowing him to make swings of the bat, using the racquet, which helped him improve his movements with the bat. And who knew, Shohei Ohtani would be hitting it out of the park in the future, isn’t it? Ohtani’s parents not only supported him from the stands but also when they were far away, which instilled a lot of confidence and motivation in him.
What more can one expect from their parents? And now, Shotime is one of the biggest two-way stars in the history of the MLB.
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