Shohei Ohtani’s dedication to his craft has been commendable. The work he puts in every single minute to perfect his skills in the ballpark is a feat that only a rare few achieve. After all, becoming a two-way sensation is no walk in the park. Maintaining the physical demands of both positions is certainly something else, and it is often said that pitching and batting are two entirely different sports, which is why few players attempt to become two-way players. 

Sho-time has displayed incredible discipline and fervor for his craft, as heeded by his World Baseball Classic teammate Lars Nootbaar. The outfielder was asked what his workout numbers were, to which the Cardinals player hyped up Sho and said it’s about 1/3rd of what Sho does. There’s no doubt that Nootbar also has impressive numbers in the gym, but it’s also true that Ohtani puts in the work that no one else does.

Lars Nootbaar gushed about Shohei Ohtani’s workout numbers 

Lars Nootbaar’s talent as an outfielder is undeniable, but there is no doubt that baseball has bewitched Shohei Ohtani’s mind and soul. And it is evident in every moment of his life, from early morning hours to late-night workouts after a game. 

Recently, Nootbaar was asked what his max bench and max squat were. To which he gushed about Ohtani’s numbers, “I don’t even know man, Whatever Shohei’s it’s about a 1/3 of that. But Max bench Max Squat, I don’t if I’ve done that since like high school, I don’t know, maybe the bar (45 lbs)”

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The Cardinals star then went on to share a story about the two-way phenom’s post-game workout routine, “Shohei, it was after a game and he was doing like 5 sets of 5 and he was putting up almost 500 lbs on the squat rack just like causally like that, it was easy for him.”

Both athletes are masters in their craft 

Shohei Ohtani and Lars Nootbaar are both masters of their craft. Ohtani’s dual-threat abilities on the mound and at the plate have made him a presence that strikes fear in his opponent, while Nootbaar’s fielding skills have left fans gaping time and time again. 

While the two-way sensation has been brewing a firestorm in his own way. The outfielder had his blazing moments as well in the WBC.

One instance was during the opening game for Japan when a batter made contact with Ohtani’s pitch, sending the ball hurtling toward the center field. The ball seemed like it would give the rival team at least a run, but then Nootbaar appeared out of nowhere. With the grace of a gazelle, he slid across the turf, making an incredible catch and securing an out. This just goes to show that reaching this point of excellence has been no easy feat.

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