The Philosophy of Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is my favorite baseball player — and one of the greatest to ever step on a mound or into a batter’s box. At 29, Shohei has shattered countless records as a two-way player in the MLB — including signing a record $700M contract.

Being a two-way player is rare, but what makes Shohei so special is how good he is at both pitching and hitting. The only real comparison is Babe Ruth — and even that feels outdated now. After watching his documentary, I walked away with three big lessons that show how Shohei became one of the greatest players in MLB, NPB, and maybe baseball history.

Trust your gut

Ohtani had offers from nearly every major MLB team — the Yankees, Padres, Red Sox, and more. So why’d he choose the Los Angeles Angels? His answer: “It felt right.”

That raised eyebrows. The Angels, despite having Mike Trout (another guaranteed Hall of Famer), were a middle-of-the-pack team. Critics called the decision a waste. Some even wondered if Shohei was blowing his shot.

But Ohtani never second-guessed it. “I trusted my instincts to make the best decision for me at the time. I don’t regret that decision,” he said.

And why should he? Those six years with the Angels gave him room to grow — even through a brutal first spring training where he feared being demoted. The team let him find his rhythm and supported his transition to life in the U.S.

No, he didn’t win a championship there. But in that time, he became a two-time MLB MVP, a WBC MVP and Japan Champion, won a Silver Slugger award, earned $50M a year in sponsorships, and landed a $700M contract with the Dodgers — a team now building around him.

Shohei trusted his gut — and it transformed his life.
What if he’d picked the Red Sox and struggled in spring training? The entire story could’ve been different.

Lesson: Trust your gut. Even when it doesn't make sense to anyone else.

Take notes

Pitching at 102mph isn’t just power — it’s mechanics. Everything from your windup to your release point matters. When Shohei practices, he takes detailed notes. Why? Because, in his words: “Just because it works today doesn’t mean it’s right.”

This hit home. You can code something for hours, finally get it working, and the next day — it breaks. What changed? What worked before? What didn’t?

Pitching is no different. Tracking what works — and why — is how you improve.

The doc highlighted a goals chart Shohei made as a high school freshman, laying out exactly how he planned to become a pro. He shrugs it off now, but it’s a fascinating window into how methodical young Shohei was.

It reminded me of Ryan Holiday’s notecard system — where every idea, quote, or insight is written down and categorized. That system built his best-selling books.

Shohei uses his notes to dominate on the mound. Ryan uses his to write books. Same principle: write it down. Journal. Make lists. Keep track.

Lesson: If you're trying to improve, track what you're doing — and what’s actually working.

Observe and be kind

A former Angels manager once said, “If Shohei didn’t like one of his coaches, do you think we’d know? No.”

Shohei’s one of the most famous athletes in the world — and one of the most private. One of the biggest mysteries during the offseason? What he named his dog.

He’s observant, thoughtful, and kind. He doesn’t gossip. He doesn’t trash talk. He doesn’t react emotionally. He watches, reflects, and acts deliberately.

So what does that have to do with baseball greatness? Everything.

Character is how we show up — especially when no one’s watching. Shohei shows up with humility, clarity, and trust. That’s why his Dodgers contract includes an exit clause if specific personnel leave. It’s not drama — it’s smart.

He had four different managers in six years with the Angels. Now, he wants consistency. He knows what kind of team — and people — he needs to win.

Lesson: Observe more, react less. And build your life around people you trust.

Shohei Ohtani is my favorite baseball player, a future Hall of Famer, and a natural-born stoic.

His documentary made me think hard about how I live and how I chase my goals. I’ve learned a lot from watching him — and now, with his new chapter on the Dodgers, I’m ready to keep learning.