Part 8/14:
Yet, no Japanese player before Ohtani had truly broken the mold in the way he has. Coming out of high school, Ohtani showcased extraordinary talent—throwing near 100 mph and power-hitting prodigiously. His performance in Japan's iconic Koshien tournament captured the attention of major league scouts globally. Unlike previous stars, Ohtani was a two-way sensation—a pitcher and a hitter—challenging the long-standing notion that players could not excel at both simultaneously.