Shohei Ohtani has a knack for the spotlight. Since he took MLB by storm, joining the league in 2017 as a the first true two-way player of the 21st century, Ohtani has thrilled baseball fans with his power, contact ability and speed, combined with his nasty stuff and high velocity on the mound. Ohtani's stardom earned him a $700 million deal with the Dodgers in the most recent MLB offseason.
And just as both parties likely hoped for when he signed his massive contract, Los Angeles has gone on a deep postseason run in 2024. Now, Ohtani and the Dodgers have a date with the Yankees in the World Series. With his unmatched talent and superstar status, some baseball fans have wondered if the 2024 World Series is Ohtani's first trip to the Fall Classic, or even his first championship appearance in baseball at all after coming over from Japan.
Has Ohtani had a deep postseason run before? Here's what to know about his history with the World Series and postseason between his time with the Dodgers and Angels in MLB, plus his time in Japan. MORE: Shohei Ohtani named The Sporting News' 2024 Player of the Year Has Shohei Ohtani won a World Series? Ohtani has never won a World Series. In his seven MLB seasons, he hadn't reached the Fall Classic until this season with the Dodgers.
Baseball is almost always a sport where having individual stars doesn't directly correlate to team success. A deep lineup and pitching staff often prove to be key factors in championship-level clubs over the long ML.