The world of professional sports is built on constant competition.

Even players who perform well one season can quickly be overtaken if they become complacent. While some athletes may appear to have secure positions, those who continue to improve with a strong sense of urgency are the ones who keep growing.

In 2018, Shohei Ohtani entered Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Angels, marking the beginning of his two-way challenge at the highest level.

Although he felt physically ready—saying he was “100% prepared”—he did not assume that he would be part of the Opening Day roster.

In fact, he made it clear that nothing was guaranteed.

“I see spring training as a competition. I’m in a position where I have to earn my spot. Since it’s my first year, I want to show what I can do starting from camp.”

For the Angels, Ohtani was a highly anticipated player—but also an unknown.

Unlike in Japan, where he had already proven himself as a two-way star, he had no track record in Major League Baseball. There were real questions about whether his unique style could succeed at that level.

Ohtani fully understood this reality.

Rather than relying on his past achievements, he approached his rookie season with the mindset of someone starting from zero—ready to prove himself from the ground up.

Source

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

Tracking Shohei Ohtani: A Beat Writer’s 10-Year Chronicle, p.160