Shohei Ohtani,29 on His future with Dodgers. “Can you imagine yourself at 39?” “If I Could Keep Strengthening my Body Until 40…” (This article was written before last season started. And I might have made mistake when translating. If you’re still okay with that, please read it. :)
This year, Ohtani is focusing solely on batting, and with it being his first year with the Dodgers, both he and those around him have no choice but to set the bar high. Last year, he achieved both a .300 batting average and a 1.000 OPS—milestones that were considered difficult to balance. How do you feel about this technical evolution?
“First of all, I think it’s big that I’ve become more composed at the plate year by year. There’s also some familiarity with it. However, I don’t think doing things the same way as last year will work this year. So, right now, I have the impression that it’s difficult to put up the same numbers. This year’s OPS might be around .950 or .960… It’s really hard to surpass 1.000. I’m not saying it’s all luck, but last year, a lot of the home runs that should’ve gone in did, and there was a good flow. I don’t feel like if I do the same things I did last year, the numbers will be the same. I think the numbers will be close, though…”
“No, my goal is to bring out the same feeling I had last year. However, recreating that same sensation is difficult. Just because I succeeded once doesn’t guarantee I’ll be able to do it again this year. Last year, from around June, I was able to maintain a really good feeling for a long time, and that was great. But if you’re asking whether I can replicate that feeling from the beginning of the season and maintain it all the way through to the end, that’s not really possible, and that’s the challenging part. Also, looking around, major league pitchers are getting faster and their pitches are moving more and more each year. The ball is getting stronger, so I need to step up even more… I think only then will I be able to produce similar numbers. This year, the league will be different, and I’ll face pitchers I’ve never seen before. Hitting is based on timing and spatial awareness, and then it moves on to how I want to move next, so not knowing the opponent is a big difference compared to last year.”
A 10-year contract—what do you imagine for yourself at 39?
Is the swing you’ve always aimed for in the majors, the one that’s “compact and smooth,” close to being perfected?
“There are things I want to improve at the start of my swing, so that’s my main challenge. I want to make it simpler, but I still think there are unnecessary movements at the beginning… However, the final form is based on last year, so the most important thing is to bring out the feeling from last year, and from there, I think about what I can add.”
In the past, Ohtani mentioned that even if he could imagine it, it would be five years ahead. However, this contract is for 10 years. Can you imagine yourself in 2033, at 39 years old?
“Yeah, I’ve started to imagine it a little. But this year is my first year with a new team, so I think I need to start by getting familiar with the team and the fans. For that, results are necessary. I joined the Dodgers with high expectations, and the only way to earn trust as a player is by delivering the results expected of me. So, what I need is not thinking about 10 years from now, but showing my worth through this year’s results.”
This year, you’ll turn 30. Do you still believe that between the ages of 30 and 35, your skills and physicality will align, and your peak as a player will come?
“I haven’t changed my mind. Right now, I feel like my physical condition is in a really good state, and I’m not sure how far I can take it from here… Maybe there’s still more potential for physical improvement. If that’s the case, my peak might be pushed a little further down the line. From here on, I won’t be able to just focus on physical training alone while ignoring technique. Playing full seasons is the standard, and I’ll continue training and delivering results during the season, while using the off-season to strengthen myself. If I continue to train in the off-season after each season, I feel like the strengthening period might last another 5 or 6 years. Ideally, I’d keep strengthening my body until I’m 40. That way, I could extend my peak even further. During that time, I want to pack in as much technique as possible, building up my skills and making sure I’m ready to use them whenever needed.”
This year, Ohtani is focusing solely on batting, and with it being his first year with the Dodgers, both he and those around him have no choice but to set the bar high. Last year, he achieved both a .300 batting average and a 1.000 OPS—milestones that were considered difficult to balance. How do you feel about this technical evolution?
“First of all, I think it’s big that I’ve become more composed at the plate year by year. There’s also some familiarity with it. However, I don’t think doing things the same way as last year will work this year. So, right now, I have the impression that it’s difficult to put up the same numbers. This year’s OPS might be around .950 or .960… It’s really hard to surpass 1.000. I’m not saying it’s all luck, but last year, a lot of the home runs that should’ve gone in did, and there was a good flow. I don’t feel like if I do the same things I did last year, the numbers will be the same. I think the numbers will be close, though…”
“No, my goal is to bring out the same feeling I had last year. However, recreating that same sensation is difficult. Just because I succeeded once doesn’t guarantee I’ll be able to do it again this year. Last year, from around June, I was able to maintain a really good feeling for a long time, and that was great. But if you’re asking whether I can replicate that feeling from the beginning of the season and maintain it all the way through to the end, that’s not really possible, and that’s the challenging part. Also, looking around, major league pitchers are getting faster and their pitches are moving more and more each year. The ball is getting stronger, so I need to step up even more… I think only then will I be able to produce similar numbers. This year, the league will be different, and I’ll face pitchers I’ve never seen before. Hitting is based on timing and spatial awareness, and then it moves on to how I want to move next, so not knowing the opponent is a big difference compared to last year.”
A 10-year contract—what do you imagine for yourself at 39?
Is the swing you’ve always aimed for in the majors, the one that’s “compact and smooth,” close to being perfected?
“There are things I want to improve at the start of my swing, so that’s my main challenge. I want to make it simpler, but I still think there are unnecessary movements at the beginning… However, the final form is based on last year, so the most important thing is to bring out the feeling from last year, and from there, I think about what I can add.”
In the past, Ohtani mentioned that even if he could imagine it, it would be five years ahead. However, this contract is for 10 years. Can you imagine yourself in 2033, at 39 years old?
“Yeah, I’ve started to imagine it a little. But this year is my first year with a new team, so I think I need to start by getting familiar with the team and the fans. For that, results are necessary. I joined the Dodgers with high expectations, and the only way to earn trust as a player is by delivering the results expected of me. So, what I need is not thinking about 10 years from now, but showing my worth through this year’s results.”
This year, you’ll turn 30. Do you still believe that between the ages of 30 and 35, your skills and physicality will align, and your peak as a player will come?
“I haven’t changed my mind. Right now, I feel like my physical condition is in a really good state, and I’m not sure how far I can take it from here… Maybe there’s still more potential for physical improvement. If that’s the case, my peak might be pushed a little further down the line. From here on, I won’t be able to just focus on physical training alone while ignoring technique. Playing full seasons is the standard, and I’ll continue training and delivering results during the season, while using the off-season to strengthen myself. If I continue to train in the off-season after each season, I feel like the strengthening period might last another 5 or 6 years. Ideally, I’d keep strengthening my body until I’m 40. That way, I could extend my peak even further. During that time, I want to pack in as much technique as possible, building up my skills and making sure I’m ready to use them whenever needed.”