One of the greatest baseball players in history! Shohei Ohtani, the ever-evolving two-way star, and his famous quotes
Shohei Ohtani, a baseball player who drew attention for the extremely rare modern pro-baseball style of being both a pitcher and a batter.
Even after moving his stage to the Major Leagues, he stayed true to his style and became a world-famous and widely popular figure.
This time, we’ve compiled a list of Shohei Ohtani’s notable quotes.
Praised as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, what beliefs and mindset does Shohei Ohtani bring to his play? We hope you’ll find some hints in this article.
One of the greatest baseball players of all time! Evolving two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s quotes (1–10)
If you get irritated, you lose.Shohei Ohtani
We get irritated when we fail, irritated when things don’t go our way—at school or at work, it happens every day.
But that kind of irritation rarely benefits your studying or your job afterward.
That’s when we should remember this famous quote.
Even if a dangerous pitch comes at your head, even if you strike out for multiple at-bats in a row, having the mental strength to discipline yourself by thinking, “If I get irritated, I lose”—that’s almost beyond human; it’s practically sage-like.
When you think about it, Ohtani often shows a smile, doesn’t he? Maybe you could start by simply being mindful of smiling, too.
Success or failure doesn’t matter to me. What’s more important is to give it a try.Shohei Ohtani
There are various theories about the origin of the expression “to hesitate,” but it is said to come from samurai hesitating to draw their swords.
You, too, have probably hesitated by anticipating failure or the reactions that might follow.
It can be taken as something said breezily, but in the end, it’s the kind of statement you can’t really make unless you have a certain degree of self-confidence.
And that “self-confidence” is surely supported by daily training.
The spirit of “just give it a try” will be an important source of positive motivation for you, no matter what world you venture into from here on out!
I feel like saying things about anything other than myself makes them less likely to come true, so I don’t really want to say much.Shohei Ohtani
It’s long been said that words contain a spiritual power—kotodama—that gives them a certain force.
Have you heard of kotodama? I think the goal notebook Otani wrote in his childhood is something close to that.
But it applies only to things that can be changed through your own effort.
This quote can be taken coolly as, “There’s no point in wishing for things that rely on others,” but flipped around it becomes, “Change your future through effort!” That’s why I feel Otani is truly a person of effort.
Instead of nitpicking others, I’d rather spend my time on something that benefits me.
Preconceptions turn the possible into the impossible.Shohei Ohtani
I think negative preconceptions like “That person is so rigid” or “Maybe this plan will be a minus” are common even for people who aren’t athletes.
A player of Ohtani’s caliber often performs within margins of just a few millimeters or fractions of a second, and into that space he injects the mindset that “preconceptions are no good.” This quote also contains the importance of the “trial-and-error spirit” shared by top athletes—the attitude of “just try it.” We know how important it is to approach things with a flat, unbiased mindset, but for ordinary people, that’s hard to do.
Without frustrating experiences, there are no joyful ones either.Shohei Ohtani
Back in high school, Ohtani was the ace of Hanamaki Higashi High School and even played at Koshien.
However—and this is something not many people know—he never won a single game there.
In one interview, he even said with palpable feeling, “I wish I could have won at Koshien at least once.” With that in mind, this famous quote really hits home, doesn’t it? Even a world-class player like him still talks about “Koshien…” Being able to turn frustration into fuel for the next step is what makes someone truly strong.
Let’s all try to emulate that mindset!
I think the most important thing is not to think it’s impossible. Once you decide it’s impossible, it’s over.Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani has overcome countless obstacles while continuing to take on unprecedented challenges.
He overturned the conventional wisdom that said “two-way play is impossible,” proving the importance of believing in possibilities.
His goal-setting sheet, which he maintained since high school, records the accumulation of daily effort, showing that behind his success lie deliberate action and unwavering conviction.
These words convey the importance of not giving up by deciding something is impossible for yourself.
It’s a quote that reminds us that to make our dreams come true, we must keep challenging ourselves without shutting the door on possibility.
Even if I don’t make it, it’s fine as long as the next child comes forward.Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani, who has achieved numerous feats in Major League Baseball and draws the attention of baseball fans around the world, left behind this memorable quote that reflects his belief in the potential of the next generation.
He also engages in activities such as donating gloves to children, sharing the appeal of baseball while cheering on the stars of the future.
These words convey a strong determination to broaden opportunities for the next generation by blazing a trail himself.
It’s a quote that resonates with many people, offering a perspective that goes beyond personal success to consider the development of the sports world as a whole.