Taishi Ohta

1.1. Early Life and Education

Taishi Ohta was born in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Influenced by his father, who was a pitcher in high school, Ohta began playing catch from an early age. He started playing softball in his first year of Fukuyama City Kawaguchi Elementary School. From the fifth grade, he played for the Tomo Kojō Club, a soft baseball team, later joining the Matsunaga Yankees club during his middle school years. In his second year at Fukuyama City Jonan Junior High School, his team won the autumn prefectural tournament. In his third year, he formed a battery with Takashi Uemoto as a pitcher for the Matsunaga Yankees.

During middle school, Ohta participated in a baseball clinic instructed by former professional players, where his powerful swing was praised by Tatsunori Hara. This encounter inspired Ohta to enroll in Hara's alma mater, Tokai University Sagami High School.

1.2. High School Baseball

At Tokai University Sagami High School, Taishi Ohta immediately made an impact. He joined the team as a third baseman in his first spring and became the cleanup hitter in his first fall. From his second fall, he took on the role of team captain. In his third spring, he converted to shortstop. Although his team failed to reach the Koshien Tournament for three consecutive years, losing in the prefectural finals, Ohta's individual performance garnered significant attention.

In the final of the 90th National High School Baseball Championship Kitakanagawa Tournament, he hit his fifth home run of the tournament, setting a new record. Throughout his high school career, Ohta amassed a remarkable 65 home runs, including five grand slams, with some estimated to have traveled as far as 459 ft ^{(140 m)}. He also demonstrated a strong arm as a pitcher, recording a top speed of 91 mph ^{(147 km/h)}. His power, defensive prowess, and leadership, coupled with his large frame, earned him nicknames like "タツノリ2世_{Tatsunori II}^Japanese" (Tatsunori's successor) and "神奈川のジーター_{Kanagawa no Jeter}^Japanese" (Kanagawa's Jeter), drawing the attention of professional scouts as a top draft prospect. His high school classmates included Kōta Kado, and Tomoyuki Sugano and Kōsuke Tanaka were one year his senior.

Initially, Ohta had planned to attend Tokai University. However, after watching a professional baseball game between the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and the Hanshin Tigers in Hiroshima, he felt a strong desire to challenge himself in the "glamorous world of professional baseball" and submitted his professional draft application on the deadline. In the 2008 NPB Draft, he was the first-round pick for both the Yomiuri Giants and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. After a lottery, the Giants secured his negotiation rights. He signed a provisional contract with the Giants for an estimated 100.00 M JPY signing bonus and an annual salary of 12.00 M JPY. He was given the jersey number 55, which had been vacant since Hideki Matsui's move to Major League Baseball. He also resided in the same dormitory room previously used by Matsui and Hayato Sakamoto.

2.1. Yomiuri Giants Era

Ohta joined the Yomiuri Giants in 2009 with high expectations. He spent eight seasons with the team, striving to establish himself as a consistent top-tier player.

In 2009, Ohta garnered significant attention during spring training, receiving batting guidance directly from manager Tatsunori Hara. He even developed a batting stance inspired by Hideki Matsui. He started the season with the minor league team (Eastern League) as the third baseman and third hitter on March 20, where he hit a double off the fence, recording his first official minor league RBI. On April 24, he hit his first minor league home run against the Shonan Searex. On August 4, playing as the cleanup hitter and third baseman against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, he hit a game-tying solo home run (11th of the season) off Darrell Rasner and a two-run home run (12th) off Masaru Yoshizaki, marking his first multi-home run game as a professional. He finished the minor league season with a .238 batting average, 17 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 101 games. Ohta was promoted to the first team for the first time on June 17, and made his first major league at-bat as a pinch-hitter on June 21 against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Tokyo Dome, striking out swinging against Brian Sikorski.

In 2010, Ohta's first team appearances were limited to only two games, both against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on June 12 and 13, where he started as the first baseman and eighth hitter but went 0-for-6. However, he continued to perform well in the Eastern League, playing 101 games with a .265 batting average, 21 home runs, and 70 RBIs, ranking second in the league in both home runs and RBIs. In October, he was selected for the 2010 IBAF Intercontinental Cup as part of the Japan national team.

For the 2011 season, Ohta started in the minor leagues again but was promoted to the first team on May 16. On May 18, against the Rakuten Eagles, he hit his first professional hit, a decisive two-run single with the bases loaded in the tenth inning. However, his defensive struggles and a poor batting average (.154 with 4 hits and 9 strikeouts in 28 at-bats) prevented him from establishing a regular spot. To focus more on hitting, he transitioned to playing outfielder in the minor leagues from June onwards, a conversion that was officially confirmed in the autumn camp. In the minor league, he played 105 games, hitting .254 with 6 home runs, but also recorded a league-high 109 strikeouts. Conversely, he was second in the league with 28 stolen bases, though also leading with 15 caught stealings.

In 2012, Ohta participated in voluntary training in Guam with teammates like Shinnosuke Abe and Hisayoshi Chono at the start of the year. He accompanied the first team from spring training and, despite a severe slump in preseason (21 consecutive at-bats without a hit), he made his first career Opening Day roster. However, his performance didn't improve, and he was sent back to the minor league on April 10. He was recalled on September 1, starting as the first baseman and seventh hitter against the DeNA BayStars that day. He recorded a game-winning RBI and his first career three-hit game, earning a spot on the victory stand. On September 23, he hit his first professional home run off Tetsuya Yamamoto of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Tokyo Dome, followed by a second consecutive home run on September 25 against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Towards the end of the league season, he started 17 games, mainly as a center fielder. He ultimately played in 21 first team games. However, he was excluded from the 2012 Central League Climax Series and 2012 Japan Series rosters. In November, he participated in the Asia Winter League, where he hit 3 home runs and recorded a .980 OPS.

The 2013 season saw Ohta make the Opening Day roster for the second consecutive year. However, he was largely relegated to the minor leagues after May 2, as other outfielders like Itaru Hashimoto and Yoshiyuki Kamei were prioritized. He finished the season having played 21 games, failing to hit a home run. On October 5, he injured himself in a bicycle fall and was removed from the educational league roster. For the fourth consecutive year, he led the minor league in strikeouts. On November 26, his jersey number was changed from 55 to 44. He later revealed in an interview on the program Birth Day that he felt regret about losing number 55 and had been told, "Give back 55, don't wear it."

In 2014, Ohta started the season in the minor league. He was called up on May 9 but was sent down again on May 18 after failing to produce. He remained in the minor league for some time, but due to successive injuries to Leslie Anderson, Tetsuya Matsumoto, and Yoshiyuki Kamei, he was recalled on August 8. He was primarily used as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner for Matsumoto. However, on September 17, in a crucial first-place showdown against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, he hit his first pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run home run of the season, leading to more opportunities as a starter. On September 27, the day after the Giants won the league championship, he started as the cleanup hitter and center fielder, marking his first time batting fourth as a professional. He became the 81st cleanup hitter in Giants history and the first player born in the Heisei era to bat cleanup for the team. He appeared in 44 games, batting .246 with 2 home runs and 12 RBIs. In October, he was selected for the "NPB 80th Anniversary Game" as part of the Hanshin-Giants combined team.

In 2015, Ohta started as the cleanup hitter on April 30 against the Chunichi Dragons in place of an injured Sakamoto, recording a three-hit game and earning a spot on the victory stand. On May 13, he hit his first home run of the season off Daichi Ohsera of the Hiroshima Carp. He primarily stayed with the first team, finally seeing increased playing time in his seventh year. He played in a career-high 60 games and had 138 at-bats, collecting 36 hits for a .277 batting average, but only managed 1 home run and 3 RBIs.

For the 2016 season, Ohta began starting as the leadoff hitter and center fielder on June 3. On June 5, he hit his first career leadoff home run off Shohei Ohtani of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. However, he subsequently struck out swinging in two consecutive at-bats, and the Giants ultimately lost the game as they failed to conquer Ohtani. He struggled to maintain his hitting form despite frequently batting leadoff and was eventually sent back to the minor league. He finished the season with 62 games played, a .202 batting average, 4 home runs, and 13 RBIs.

2.2. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Era

On November 2, 2016, it was announced that Ohta, along with teammate Katsuhiko Kumon, had been traded to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in exchange for Fighters pitcher Mitsuo Yoshikawa and Shingo Ishikawa. On November 23, during the Fighters' fan festival, it was announced that his new uniform number would be 33. He was expected to fill the outfield void left by Daikang Yang's departure.

In 2017, Ohta's start to the season was delayed by an injury, but he was promoted to the first team on April 23. On April 29, he hit his first home run as a Fighter off Manabu Mima of the Rakuten Eagles. On May 3, against the Chiba Lotte Marines, he hit his first career walk-off RBI single off Naoya Masuda. On May 12, also against the Marines, he hit his first two-home run game with the Fighters off Hideaki Wakui. He was utilized as a regular left fielder throughout the season and, on October 3 against the Orix Buffaloes, he reached the qualified plate appearances for the first time in his nine-year professional career. He played in 118 games as a regular left fielder, batting .258 with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .302 OBP.

In 2018, Ohta started the season as the seventh hitter and left fielder. However, with Kensuke Kondoh returning from injury and sometimes playing left field, Ohta began to regularly play right field. From April 24, he started as the second hitter and right fielder against the Orix Buffaloes, hitting two consecutive home runs off Chihiro Kaneko. On July 3, he was selected for the 2018 NPB All-Star game. On July 8, he sustained a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand after being hit by a pitch from Yasuo Tanaka of the Lotte Marines and was placed on the disabled list on July 9. He returned to the active roster on August 25. Despite the injury layoff, he played in 104 games, achieving a .274 batting average, 14 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a .350 OBP. Off-season, on December 26, his jersey number was changed to 5. He also recorded a UZR of 13.3, which was the second-highest among right fielders in both leagues.

The 2019 season saw Ohta firmly establish himself as the regular right fielder. On June 9, his birthday, he achieved the feat of hitting a home run against all 12 NPB teams against the Hanshin Tigers (Hiroya Shimamoto), becoming the 35th player in NPB history to do so. Notably, this was only his 49th career home run, making him only the second player (after Keiji Obiki in 2015) to achieve this milestone with fewer than 50 career home runs. He played in a career-high 132 games, setting new personal bests in many categories, including a .289 batting average, his first 20-home run season, and 77 RBIs, with a .325 OBP. However, he also recorded a league-worst 22 grounded into double plays. Following the season, he signed a new contract for 100.00 M JPY, an increase of 35.00 M JPY, making him a 100.00 M JPY-player for the first time in his 11-year career.

In 2020, Ohta continued as the regular right fielder, playing in 115 of 120 games. He maintained stable batting statistics, hitting .275 with 14 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .314 OBP. Defensively, he also excelled, recording 7 assists, which was the second-highest in the league. For his outstanding defensive performance, he received his first Golden Glove Award in his 12th year as a professional.

In 2021, Ohta again started as the Opening Day right fielder. However, he struggled with a batting slump, playing in 59 games with a .212 average, 3 home runs, and 17 RBIs. He was removed from the roster on June 25. He was recalled to the first team at the start of the second half on August 13 but continued his struggles and was sent back down on September 6. On November 16, the Fighters announced that they would not offer him a contract for the following season, making him a non-tendered free agent. On December 2, he officially became a free agent, along with Haruki Nishikawa and Akira Akiyoshi.

2.3. Yokohama DeNA BayStars Era

After receiving offers from multiple teams as a free agent, Taishi Ohta signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on December 14, 2021. His estimated annual salary was 50.00 M JPY, a significant decrease from his previous salary of 130.00 M JPY. He inherited jersey number 0, previously worn by his former Giants teammate Daisuke Nakai.

In 2022, despite fierce competition for outfield spots and often starting as a reserve, Ohta displayed his hitting prowess when given the opportunity, primarily batting second. On April 17, he hit his first home run as a BayStar against Keiji Takahashi of the Yakult Swallows. However, on May 8, he suffered a right hamstring strain while fielding against the Hiroshima Carp and was placed on the disabled list. He returned to the first team on June 3 but continued to manage leg stiffness and overall fatigue, leading to another stint on the disabled list on July 8. He rejoined the team on August 5, and on August 9 against the Hanshin Tigers, he hit his first walk-off RBI single with the BayStars off Ren Kajiya in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, breaking a 0-0 tie. On August 11, he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and forced to withdraw. Upon his return to the first team on August 28, he recorded his second career five-hit game on August 30 against the Chunichi Dragons, contributing significantly to the team's victory. Although limited to 62 games, he hit .278 with 5 home runs, 18 RBIs, and a .774 OPS, bouncing back from his previous slump. His impressive performances and role in boosting team morale from the dugout also contributed to the BayStars reaching the Climax Series for the first time in three years.

In 2023, Ohta struggled with a batting slump in the first half, hitting just .127, and was sent down to the minor league for adjustment on July 10. He rejoined the first team on July 22 and recorded his first RBI in three months that same day against the Yakult Swallows. On September 17, in a game against the Hanshin Tigers, with the score tied 0-0 in the top of the ninth, Ohta was called upon as a pinch-hitter. He hit a solo home run off the first pitch from Colten Brewer, securing a 1-0 victory for the BayStars. This was the first time in 74 years that an NPB game was decided by a pinch-hit solo home run in the ninth inning of a 0-0 game, and the first such instance in the two-league system era. Towards the end of the season, he filled in for an injured Keita Sano at the third spot in the batting order and played as the third hitter and right fielder in the Climax Series first stage against Hiroshima. Despite the first-half struggles, he finished the season with 75 games, a .217 batting average, 4 home runs, and 15 RBIs. In the offseason, he was dispatched to the Mexican Pacific League to play for the Yaquis de Obregon in the Mexican Winter League for further training. However, he only managed one hit in seven games before returning to Japan on November 28.

In 2024, Ohta suffered a left hamstring strain during a spring training game against the Seibu Lions on March 10, forcing him to miss the start of the season. He played 70 games in the minor league, recording a .264 batting average, 1 home run, and 15 RBIs, but he did not make any appearances in the first team. On October 1, he was informed that the BayStars would not offer him a contract for the following season, effectively making him a free agent. He started as the fourth hitter and left fielder in the Farm Japan Championship on October 5, where he recorded two hits in four at-bats.

2.4. Retirement and Post-Retirement Activities

Although Taishi Ohta initially expressed a desire to continue his professional career, even declining a celebratory "doh-age" (toss-up) after the Farm Japan Championship, no offers from other teams materialized. On November 15, 2024, it was officially announced that he would be retiring from professional baseball. Following his retirement, Ohta will return to his former team, the Yomiuri Giants, to serve as a coach at their academy.

5.1. Career Statistics

; Infield Fielding

; Outfield Fielding

• Bold values for a given year indicate the league-leading mark.
• Bold year indicates Golden Glove Award won.

5.2. Awards and Honors

• Golden Glove Award: 1 time (Outfielder: 2020)

5.3. Notable Records

; First Records

• First appearance: June 21, 2009, against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Tokyo Dome, as a pinch-hitter for Tetsuya Matsumoto in the 9th inning with two outs and a runner on second.
• First at-bat: Same as above, striking out swinging against Brian Sikorski in the 9th inning.
• First start: June 12, 2010, against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Fukuoka Dome, starting as the 8th hitter and first baseman.
• First hit and first RBI: May 18, 2011, against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi, a game-winning two-run single to center field off Romulo Sanchez in the 10th inning.
• First stolen base: September 4, 2012, against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, stealing second base in the 9th inning (pitcher: Shinobu Fukuhara, catcher: Akinobu Fujii).
• First home run: September 23, 2012, against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Tokyo Dome, a solo home run to left field off Tetsuya Yamamoto in the 8th inning.

; Other Records

• Home run against all 12 NPB teams: June 9, 2019, against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, a two-run home run to left field off Hiroya Shimamoto in the 6th inning. He was the 35th player in NPB history to achieve this feat.
• Pinch-hit walk-off solo home run in a 0-0 game in the 9th inning: September 17, 2023, against the Hanshin Tigers at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, off Colten Brewer. This was the first such instance in NPB in 74 years, and the first in the two-league system era.

5.4. Uniform Numbers

• 55 (2009-2013, Yomiuri Giants)
• 44 (2014-2016, Yomiuri Giants)
• 33 (2017-2018, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
• 5 (2019-2021, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
• 0 (2022-2024, Yokohama DeNA BayStars)

5.5. Walk-up Songs

• "Closer" by Ne-Yo (2009)
• "GEE (Korean ver.)" by Girls' Generation (2011)
• "Baby I Love U" by TEE (2011)
• "Galaxy Express 999" by Godiego (2012)
• "Yattemonai no ni" by RAY (2013)
• "Empire State of Mind" (feat. Alicia Keys) by Jay-Z (2014)
• "Here It Is" by Flo Rida ft. Chris Brown (2015-2016)
• "Boom Clap" by Charli XCX (2015)
• "Street Dreams" by Zeebra (2016)
• "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi (2017-, odd-numbered at-bats after transferring to Yokohama)
• "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi (2017-, even-numbered at-bats after transferring to Yokohama)
• "Uraniwa Dokusou Saizensen" by TERRY THE AKI-06 (2022-, first at-bat)
• "AREA AREA" by OZROSAURUS (2023)
• "Inpakuto" by CHEHON (2023, during clutch situations)

5.6. National Team Appearances

• 2010 IBAF Intercontinental Cup Japan National Team