Since his days with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Shohei Ohtani has valued thinking for himself and immediately testing new ideas in practice.

Rather than strictly following training menus prescribed by coaches, he has consistently prioritized experimenting, adjusting, and discovering what works best for him.

In 2019, his second year in Major League Baseball, Ohtani was recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

While managing his rehabilitation, he continued batting practice under carefully controlled conditions.

Because there were no clear precedents for a player in his situation—rehabilitating from elbow surgery while continuing to hit—Ohtani had to make many decisions on his own.

How many swings to take.
Whether to practice outdoors or not.
How to adjust based on his physical condition.

Through this process, he discovered not only what worked—but also what didn’t.

One clear realization stood out:

“I realized that a fixed routine like ‘five swings per set, five sets a day’ doesn’t suit me at all.”

Instead of adhering to predetermined numbers, Ohtani focuses on the quality and feedback of each swing.

If three swings feel right, he stops.
If five aren’t enough, he continues—even up to fifteen.

For him, effective training is not about completing a quota.

It is about responding to the moment, understanding his body, and refining his performance through constant adjustment.

By thinking, testing, and adapting, Ohtani continues to build his own definition of what “good practice” truly means.

Source

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

Shohei Ohtani: Baseball Shonen II – MLB Edition 2018–2024, p.92