During the offseason following the 2018 season, Shohei Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Although he had experienced injuries and rehabilitation before, this was his first time facing a recovery process that would last over a year.

By May 2019, he had returned to the field as a hitter, but he was still in the middle of rehabilitation as a pitcher.

When asked about his recovery, Ohtani admitted that while everything was progressing according to plan, there were still uncertainties.

He spoke honestly about how he felt:

“It’s frustrating, and there’s definitely some stress. It also feels like I’ve lost my greatest source of enjoyment—baseball.”

For Ohtani, baseball is not only a profession—it is also his greatest form of enjoyment.

That is why the inability to fully play, especially to pitch, created a sense of loss.

At the same time, the rehabilitation process brought unexpected insights.

Because the elbow was still sensitive, he became more aware of how each pitch affected his body.

“With each throw, I can clearly tell whether the form was good or if it put stress on my arm.”

This heightened awareness allowed him to better understand the mechanics of his pitching.

In some cases, it even led to moments of dramatic improvement.

Even in a period filled with frustration and limitation, Ohtani found a way to turn stress into progress.

Source

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

Shohei Ohtani Feature, Number 980, p.21