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 draws attention for his extremely rare modern pro-baseball style as a two-way player—both pitcher and batter.
Even after moving his stage to the Major Leagues, he stayed true to his style and became a globally famous and popular figure.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of Shohei Ohtani’s famous quotes.
Hailed as one of the greatest baseball players in history, what beliefs and ways of thinking does Shohei Ohtani bring to his play? We hope you’ll find some hints in this article!
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One of the greatest baseball players of all time! Evolving two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani’s quotes (11–20)
I don’t know how far I can go. More importantly, I have to win.NEW!Shohei Ohtani
These are words from Shohei Ohtani, who has produced results as a two-way player, expressing an attitude of never being satisfied with the status quo and continuing to put in the work.
Even in an interview where the data clearly shows he’s achieved a lot, he conveys that there’s still further to go.
By also articulating the immediate goal of seizing the next win right in front of him, he evokes the importance of directing one’s efforts properly.
It’s the kind of statement that makes you see how achieving near-term goals paves the way to leaving truly great accomplishments.
Go crush the ball with 100% power.NEW!Shohei Ohtani
These words express how Shohei Ohtani approaches hitting the ball, conveying a sense of his skill as a batter.
In an interview about changes to his hitting, he used this term as a new technique to describe his growth as a hitter.
He also spoke with confidence about his development, saying that by changing his swing mechanics he’s able to put more force into the ball.
It’s the kind of phrasing that suggests the results come not only from talent, but also from theory and hard work.
I belong to the Hanyu generation.NEW!Shohei Ohtani
When telling others our age, we sometimes make it clearer by using athletes to represent our generation.
This is a phrase that expresses which athlete’s generation I belong to, from Ohtani’s point of view.
Speaking of athletes who made history in this generation, there’s Shohei Ohtani and Yuzuru Hanyu; from Ohtani’s perspective, you can feel that Hanyu is the perfect athlete to symbolize the generation.
There’s also a slightly comical vibe in the fact that a great athlete uses another athlete as an example.
I want to make you say you’re lonely.NEW!Shohei Ohtani
These are words he said in an interview while his wife, Mamiko, wasn’t accompanying Shohei Ohtani on the road.
When asked whether he feels lonely not being able to be together, he expressed that he wants his partner to miss him.
Rather than showing affection himself, he wants the other person to think of him—he wants to feel loved.
It conveys Ohtani’s stance, and the fact that he said it with a smile is also striking—words that convey affection and trust toward his partner.
Expectations aren’t something to meet, but to exceed.Shohei Ohtani
It teaches a positive mindset that aims not just to meet what others ask of you, but to go beyond.
Instead of stopping at “this is good enough,” it emphasizes the importance of continually pushing yourself with the belief that “I can do more.” For example, when people expect you to “get a hit,” you don’t settle for a hit—you work with the determination to go for a home run.
In studying, too, rather than thinking “as long as I pass,” you challenge yourself to “do my very best,” which leads to growth.
These words gently show a way of thinking that turns expectations not into pressure, but into an opportunity to develop yourself.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!