Shohei Ohtani is often seen as a player full of confidence, enjoying baseball with a sense of ease.

However, during his first spring training in Major League Baseball, things did not go as planned. He struggled both as a pitcher and a hitter, and for a moment, he began to lose confidence.

As a young Japanese star attempting a two-way role not seen since Babe Ruth, Ohtani was under intense scrutiny. Many in the American media and among fans questioned whether such a challenge was even possible.

Amid that pressure, he was expected to deliver results.

During that difficult period, Ohtani visited Ichiro and spent about an hour speaking with him.

What Ichiro told him was simple, yet powerful:

“You should believe in your own talent.”

Ohtani later reflected that those words changed everything.

“They helped me gain confidence, and I was able to step onto the field with belief. That moment started with those words.”

Around the same time, Angels general manager Billy Eppler also encouraged him, saying, “You have the ability—just believe in yourself.”

No matter how strong a person may seem, everyone experiences moments of doubt.

In those moments, the words and support of others can profoundly shape one’s path and restore the confidence needed to move forward.

Source

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

Shohei Ohtani Feature, Number 968–969, p.17