In 2024, Shohei Ohtani produced one of the greatest individual seasons in baseball history.

He hit 54 home runs and drove in 130 runs, winning both the home run title and RBI title.

He also stole 59 bases, becoming the first player ever to achieve the historic “50–50” milestone.

When he reached 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases — becoming only the sixth player in MLB history to do so — he did it in dramatic fashion with his first career walk-off grand slam.

And when he finally surpassed 50–50, he exploded for three home runs, two stolen bases, six hits, and ten RBIs in a single game.

It was a season filled with historic numbers.

Naturally, much of the attention focused on his individual accomplishments.

Yet when reporters asked Ohtani about his home run totals and stolen bases, he responded as though the numbers themselves were secondary.

“Of course I knew how many home runs I had, but that itself never became the goal. I want to use them properly as a means to help the team win.”

That answer perfectly reflected Ohtani’s philosophy.

For professional athletes, statistics and titles often become the ultimate objective because they directly increase a player’s reputation and value.

But Ohtani sees them differently.

To him, numbers are not the purpose.

They are tools.

The real goal is winning.

Even regarding stolen bases, he emphasized efficiency over spectacle, saying he wanted to prioritize not getting caught stealing.

That mindset is part of what makes Ohtani unique.

Even during a season overflowing with historic individual achievements, his focus never drifted far from the team.

The records mattered.

But victory mattered more.

Source

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

Number Web, August 28, 2024