Japan’s victory at the 2023 World Baseball Classic sent the entire country into celebration.
At the center of it all was Shohei Ohtani, whose performances throughout the tournament became instant baseball history. From his dominant pitching to his dramatic at-bats and emotional leadership, Ohtani’s impact on the championship run ensured that the tournament would be remembered for generations.
According to a reporter from Number, during the medal ceremony after Japan’s victory, Ohtani repeatedly wiped around his eyes in a way that seemed unusually emotional.
But when asked later whether he had been crying, Ohtani simply smiled and replied:
“It was sweat.”
Even in one of the greatest moments of his career, he stayed composed.
There is no question that winning the WBC meant everything to him. Ohtani himself described it as:
“Without a doubt, probably the best moment of my career so far.”
And yet, even while celebrating a world championship, his mind was already moving toward the future.
Ohtani immediately spoke about three new goals:
Winning in the postseason and the World Series.
Maintaining his standing by the next WBC three years later.
And becoming an even greater player.
That mentality reveals what separates Ohtani from ordinary superstars.
For many athletes, becoming world champion would represent the final destination.
For Ohtani, it was merely a checkpoint.
His hunger to win had existed since high school, where he never achieved victory at Koshien Stadium. That frustration became part of the reason he committed so deeply to mastering both pitching and hitting.
Winning matters deeply to him.
But what makes Ohtani unique is that every achievement only expands his vision further.
His true goal is not simply to collect trophies or records.
It is to dominate both as a pitcher and hitter, lead his team to championships, and ultimately become the greatest baseball player in the world.
Source
This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.
Want to Know More! Shohei Ohtani SHO-TIME Viewing Guide, p.187