MLB teams abuzz about Shohei Ohtani, baseball’s next two-way superstar — here’s what fans should know about the Japanese phenom

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Shohei Ohtani has never thrown a pitch or made a plate appearance in an MLB game, yet for a few teams, he’s the biggest potential prize of the entire offseason.

With a sweet left-handed swing to go along with his cannon for a right arm, Ohtani hits almost as well as he pitches, making him a rare two-way player. Thanks to his exploits in Nippon Professional Baseball, he’s been referred to as the Japanese Babe Ruth, a nickname that has generated outsized excitement and outsized expectations.

Of course, even Ruth eventually chose to focus on hitting only, and it remains to be seen how the winner of the Ohtani sweepstakes will use him in the states. But no matter what, the 23-year-old phenom’s journey to a long-awaited MLB career has been full of twists and turns, and there may be some more before he signs.

Below, find out everything you need to know about one of baseball’s truly unique stars.