Dedicated to His Craft, Shohei Ohtani Delivers His Best Despite Countless Off-Field Issues

Sometimes trusting your abilities is the only way to escape stressful situations. Putting your head down and working through the troubles sometimes becomes the only way. Shohei Ohtani chose to do the same. Amidst the Ippei Mizuhara scandal affecting his off-field life, the on-field Shotime has been nothing less than extraordinary. Perhaps the fact that the Los Angeles Dodgers star has stayed true to his duties had made this possible.

Ohtani recently held a small press meet where he answered questions ranging from pitchers getting injured to his experience of playing in the Wrigley Field. During these talks, the topic shifted to the recent turmoil that Ohtani has seen in his personal life. Ippei Mizuhara’s gambling issues and his first home run controversy have been ruling the headlines for some time. However, it looks like Ohtani has chosen to ignore those thoughts while stepping on the field.

In SportsNet LA’s X post, Ohtani said that when he’s on the field, the only thing he cares about is his job. “Regardless of whatever happens off the field, my ability to play baseball hasn’t changed. It is my job to make sure I play to the best of my abilities,” Ohtani said via his interpreter Will Ireton.

The $700 million superstar is certainly proving that by his recent performances. Shotime is currently coming off multiple multi-hit games and has found a groove he was lacking at the beginning of the season. As Kyodo News reported, all Ohtani needed was that one home run. “Of course, hitting that first home run makes a difference totally. Being able to relax mentally going into the batter’s box is a big difference,” Ohtani said.

However, it was the superstar’s comments on the current pitching injury pandemic that were interesting. While he didn’t put forth a concrete theory, Ohtani did acknowledge that over-exertion could be a factor.

Shohei Ohtani’s opinion on pitch clock and rapid pitching injuries

Ohtani too is a victim of recent pitching injuries. The superstar had his second elbow surgery last season and hasn’t been able to pitch ever since. So when he was asked about rising pitching injuries and the role of pitch clock in that, Ohtani had a mixed answer. “I’m sure there’s some added pressure just to the body for having to maintain a workload in less amount of time. So personally I think there could be but nothing concrete.”

Later a reporter asked whether the pitchers constantly chasing spin rate and velocity played a factor. To this Ohtani said that pitchers always try to throw their best pitch. So perhaps it could be a combination of that with a pitch clock that could be putting too much pressure on the pitcher’s arm. 

Interestingly Shohei Ohtani has already started playing catch according to reports. While he won’t be pitching this season, there are hopes of him returning to the mound next season. That’s a wonderful revelation for his fans but certainly an ominous sign for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ opposition.

Read more: Shohei Ohtani Elevates His Form With Big Performance, Escapes Off-Field Noise Amidst Ippei Mizuhara Investigation