Shohei Ohtani has experienced multiple seasons in which he was unable to perform at his desired level due to injuries and surgeries—both during his time at Hanamaki Higashi High School and throughout his professional career.

In his fourth year with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, he led the team to a Japan Series championship.

However, in his fifth and final season in Japan, injuries limited his performance, and he expressed a strong sense of regret, saying he felt “sorry” for not being able to contribute more.

After moving to Major League Baseball, Ohtani won the Rookie of the Year award in his first season.

But in his second and third seasons, he struggled statistically due to the effects of Tommy John surgery.

During the offseason of his third year, Ohtani approached the 2021 season with a clear mindset:

he saw it as his “last chance” to prove himself as a two-way player.

Carrying the frustration of the previous two years, he reflected on that moment like this:

“It was my third year, the final stage of rehab, so I felt like I had to finally put everything together.

Rather than playing it safe, I think I approached it with a mindset of going all out.”

At the time, no one doubted his talent as both a pitcher and a hitter.

However, there were growing questions about whether he should continue as a two-way player.

To silence those doubts—and to keep that path alive—Ohtani knew he had to deliver undeniable results.

Fueled by the frustration of those two difficult years,

he went on to produce an MVP-caliber season.

Source

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

Shohei Ohtani Report, p.71