Shohei Ohtani sets his sights on fulfilling his World Series ambitions after fairytale WBC win for Japan
Coming off a historic WBC win, Shohei Ohtani has the world at his feet.
Back at Angels spring training camp on Friday, the Japanese two-way sensation was quizzed about his hunger and desire for the upcoming season. Reporters were keen to understand the impact winning the tournament had on Ohtani, and whether it has also increased his desire to win with the Angels this season.
“I thought that,” he said in Japanese. “I thought the intensity of a protracted battle like the WBC or the playoffs was special.”
The experience of the big stage hasn't hindered his initial objectives however, which is always to do his best.
“It doesn’t change what I do,” he said. “Even if I hadn’t played in the WBC, my intensity toward the season would be the same. To be able to experience that kind of atmosphere before the season is special, but it doesn’t fundamentally change the fact that I want to do my best.”
When quizzed about his impending free agency still looming in the air, the WBC champion and two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani looked stoic in his approach for the upcoming season. Getting to the World Series with the Los Angeles Angels seems to be his primary objective, a feat he has never accomplished before.
“Not especially,” he said. “First, I want to get to the World Series with the Angels and win. That reinforced those thoughts. That’s all I’m thinking about. We have another week. I want to recover and approach the season in the best condition possible.”
For now, Ohtani continues to focus on an exciting season due to start in a couple of days.
Shohei Ohtani returned to the Angels facility on Thursday to a rousing reception
The WBC MVP Shohei Ohtani returned to the Angels camp on Thursday. Happy to see all of his Angels teammates again after a tiring couple of weeks with the national team, Ohtani received a lot of love from everyone for the big scalp.
“Everyone congratulated me, and that made me happy,” he said. “I saw everyone’s face for the first time in a while and it made me feel again that I wanted to win a championship with this team.”
Ohtani made it back on the field early Friday, pitching against the Arizona Diamondbacks’ High A club on a practice field at Angels Spring Training.