NIPPON HAM FIGHTERS DISPLAY SHOHEI OHTANI MURAL 10 YEARS AFTER DRAFTING HIM

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

Tuesday marks 10 years to the day that Japanese professional baseball team the Nippon Ham Fighters took a major gamble 

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

in the first round of the inaugural Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Draft. 

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

The Fighters drafted an 18-year-old phenom despite his reported public insistence that he would instead sign with an MLB team. 

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

Shohei Ohtani ended up changing his tune and signing with the Fighters. 

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

The team and then-manager Hideki Kuriyama allowed him to develop as a two-way player instead of focusing on just being a pitcher or a hitter.

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

Ohtani became a superstar over his five seasons with the Fighters before finally taking his talents to North America 

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

signing with the Los Angeles Angels before the 2018 MLB season. 

Top 8 facts about Jimmy Kimme

Since then, his star has only risen as a two-way pitcher and designated hitter with the Angels. 

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