There is often a debate in life: is it better to live “short and intense” or “long and steady”?

For Shohei Ohtani, the answer is neither.
He aims for something more demanding—to be both intense and as long-lasting as possible.

In his first Major League season, Ohtani won Rookie of the Year with 4 wins as a pitcher and 22 home runs as a hitter.
However, toward the end of that season, he suffered a ligament injury in his right elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery during the offseason.

Reflecting on that year, Ohtani shared a clear realization:

“When you give everything you have, results follow.
But if you don’t, there’s no hiding it.”

In other words, performance directly reflects whether or not he has truly given his all.

After two years during which he was unable to pitch, Ohtani entered the 2021 season with a strong determination:
to stay in the starting rotation for a full year and, as a hitter, play in as many games as possible—only resting when necessary before pitching.

As a two-way player, both pitching and hitting, the physical burden is immense.
Naturally, the risk of injury is high.

Still, Ohtani made his stance clear:

“You can either hold back to avoid injury, or accept the risk and play.
For me, the most important thing is to give everything each year.”

Rather than limiting himself out of fear,
he chooses to go all out—and then figure out how to sustain that effort over time.

That balance—maximizing performance while maintaining longevity—
is what defines Ohtani’s philosophy as a professional.

Source

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

Baseball Youth II: MLB Edition 2018–2024 – Shohei Ohtani Long Interview, p.158