At the end of each year in Japan, a single kanji character is chosen to represent the year’s mood.
When asked what single character would define his season, Shohei Ohtani once chose “One.”

In 2024, after winning the World Series in his first year with the Dodgers, he explained that “One” represented becoming number one — a champion. Though other characters like “Victory” or even “Five” (for 50–50) were possible, he chose “One” to symbolize reaching the top.

But ten years earlier, in January 2014, Ohtani was asked a similar question about his goal for the upcoming season. That time, he chose the character for “Win.”

His explanation was simple — and revealing:

“Last season was one where I was carried to wins. This year, I want to earn as many wins for the team as I can.”

In his 2013 rookie season, Ohtani recorded three wins as a pitcher.
But in his own mind, those victories were not truly his. He felt he had been supported — even saved — by his teammates.

For Ohtani, an ace pitcher is someone who steps on the mound and either secures the win or at least leaves the game in a position where victory is within reach.

In 2014, he achieved his first double-digit win season with 11 victories. The following year, he won 15 games and captured the pitching Triple Crown in Japan.

While he was growing rapidly as a hitter, he was also transforming into a true ace — someone who did not merely participate in wins, but delivered them.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Chasing Shohei Ohtani: A Beat Reporter’s 10-Year Chronicle, p.21