At the Los Angeles Dodgers stadium, the air is tense. It’s the final week of their regular season and they are going to face The San Diego Padres. If they win with them, the Dodgers would clinch their 11th NL West division title in 12 years—big deal! Even in such a high-stakes atmosphere, a floppy-haired guy walks into the room with a tea in his hand and a soft smile, with not a worry on his face—that is Shohei Ohtani. The man who slashed records of baseball greats like Babe Ruth and opened the doors to the never before 50-50 club, is not one after the flashing lights.

Shohei Ohtani is what most people deem as ‘humble’ and ‘nice.’ There are so many instances where we have seen Ohtani bowing to the opposing catcher and umpire before his first at-bat. After drawing a walk, he also removes his protective gear with respect and lays it neatly for the batboy. Most question—is Ohtani really that good? Is he that different from all the other superstars like Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter, that the sport has seen? Well, his friends have answered it for you!

Is Shohei Ohtani’s image a sham?

Down to earth—this is a rare quality and even rarer to find in a successful person. Let alone one of the biggest names in modern baseball! Ohtani at this point has 54 home runs, 39 stolen bases and has a batting average second only to Luis Arraez. He just felt short by a little win becoming the NL triple Crown winner since Joe Medwick of the St Louis Cardinals in 1937. But is he thrilled? Sure. Is he reveling in the glory? His friends and mates don’t think so! According to them, Ohtani is as humble as ever.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star not only has fans in a chokehold with his performance but also winning over his teammates. Third base coach Dino Ebel said, “The way he carries himself, I mean, he knows there’s a lot of attention on him and you wouldn’t even know it. He’s Shohei Ohtani. He’s just a genuine, great person.” The ability to remain grounded even when he is surrounded by stardom is a quality many are mentioning, including Miguel Rojas.

Rojas compared how having played with other superstar players, he has seen them live a different life. A lot of people around, and ‘needy’ is what he put it as, unlike his experience with Ohtani. “They can’t live a regular life, like any other players that can actually go out and do stuff,” said Miguel Rojas. And it shows how down-to-earth and unbothered by the fame Ohtani is. Seems like baseball, and enjoying the simple joys of life like playing with his dog, Decoy is all he loves. In fact, Max Muncy, best described Ohtani in words, “a little kid in a grown man’s body.”

Seems like Ohtani seems to have a childlike spirit and fun—and well, his smile says a lot about his personality. One doesn’t become this person overnight, it’s a character that has developed over time, and Ohtani has his culture to thank for it. 

How Shohei Ohtani’s Japanese roots shaped his humble persona

Shohei Ohtani bowing, being humble, raised plenty of eyebrows. Many thought Ohtani’s image to be PR or too good to be true. The gotcha moment came for most when the star was tangled in a theft and gambling scandal. But despite popular belief, the juicy drama wasn’t so juicy, as Ohtani was the victim of betrayal. So, it shows that Ohtani might just be this nice, childlike person or for the lack of a better word—normal! And one might have his background to thank for.

Shohei Ohtani’s calm and composed nature, even after achieving such heights, may have something to do with his Japanese culture. Back home in Japan, he was a prowess as a ballplayer. Then he got plenty of chances to play for the big high school programs, but he played in his local school. There he achieved legendary stats. At just 18 years old, he threw a 98 miler. But his high-school coach didn’t let success get into Ohtani’s head. His way? Well, he made Ohtani clean toilets in the school dorm rooms to teach him humility.

Even back at home, when Ohtani was earning around $2 million at just 16, his mother restricted his spending to just $1,000. She even ensured that Ohtani stayed with other baseball players and lived in a dorm, with no extra luxuries until necessary. This adherence to humility reflects the Japanese saying, “Deru kugi wa utareru” (The nail that sticks out gets hammered down), and this shaped Ohtani to be what he is today.

In a time when the cancel culture is strong, where even one false accusation can pull people’s entire careers—look at Ohtani. He came through the turbulent times, had his head in the game, and his attitude right. What do you guys think about Ohtani reaching the pinnacle of the sport? Let us know below.