In 2024, Shohei Ohtani experienced the postseason for the first time since coming to Major League Baseball.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers, he achieved everything he had long been striving for—winning the division, capturing the league championship, and ultimately claiming the World Series title.

Throughout this run, one phrase frequently appeared in media coverage describing Ohtani’s performance:

“a tense, high-stakes feeling.”

This expression traces back to a comment he made on September 26, 2021.

After the Los Angeles Angels fell to 74–82, securing their sixth consecutive losing season, Ohtani spoke candidly after the game:

“I want to experience a September that’s more exciting—

one with that kind of tension.

I hope the clubhouse is filled with those kinds of conversations.

And I want to work toward making that happen from next year on.”

On October 3 of that same year, Ohtani got a brief taste of that “high-stakes” atmosphere.

The game was against the Seattle Mariners, who were fighting for their first postseason appearance in 20 years.

More than 40,000 fans packed T-Mobile Park, creating an intense, electric environment.

In that game, Ohtani hit his 46th home run—his first in 11 games—and led his team to victory.

The more intense the moment,

the more Ohtani rises to the occasion.

Source

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

Shohei Ohtani Report, p.118