This is true not only in professional baseball, but in sports in general: when thousands of fans come to watch and cheer passionately, athletes naturally feel more motivated to give everything they have.

Just like the difference between home and away matches in soccer, playing in front of supportive fans can elevate performance to another level. On the road, players must battle through hostile boos and pressure. At home, the energy of the crowd becomes strength.

Shohei Ohtani experienced that power firsthand during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Japan opened the tournament in Group B against China at the Tokyo Dome. Ohtani started the game as the pitcher and delivered exactly what fans had hoped for. He threw four scoreless innings while allowing only one hit, and as the No. 3 hitter, he added two hits at the plate to help Japan secure an 8–1 victory.

It was the perfect opening performance from the tournament’s biggest star.

Naturally, during the postgame hero interview, the Tokyo Dome erupted with cheers for Ohtani. Most players would simply thank the fans and leave the stage.

But Ohtani smiled and challenged the crowd instead:

“There’s still not enough cheering yet, so tomorrow, I’m counting on you for even louder support.”

The comment perfectly captured Ohtani’s relationship with fans.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he experienced games played without spectators, and he came to understand even more deeply how much energy crowd support gives athletes.

Hearing the roar of the fans, feeling their expectations, and responding with performances worthy of that support—those moments became part of what made baseball meaningful and enjoyable for him.

For Ohtani, cheering is not background noise.

It is part of the game itself.

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 Notebook, p.387