Last evening, Los Angeles Angels star DH and pitcher Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs making him the first player to reach 30 this year. In addition, as you can see in the video above, he is in the midst of having an unprecedented season. Ohtani is accomplishing things on a baseball field that have not been done since Babe Ruth 100 years ago. More on that below.
After the game, the team’s manager Joe Haddon was asked to describe Ohtani. In true Disney fashion, he said, “Maybe supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Every time he swings the bat it looks like it could be a home run. He has the patience to draw a walk and then is a really aggressive and astute base runner. And then he pitches. He’s always prepared and under control. It’s an All-Star performance above and beyond.”
Ohtani stands 6’4″, throws 101 miles per hour, and consistently hits 470 feet home runs. The 26-year-old player from Iwate Prefecture, Japan is an athletic marvel.
Recently, The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd profiled the international sensation in this article.
The following are 10 Leadership Lessons we learn from Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani we glean from the article:
- Great Leaders See Things And Do Things Average Leaders Do Not – On April 26th, Ohtani was the team’s starting pitcher against the Texas Rangers while also leading the American League in home runs. The last time this was done was by Ruth on June 13, 1921. You read that right – 48 days from being exactly 100 years. No one had accomplished that feet in a century!!!
- Ohtani Does Many Things Well But Still Focuses On His Strengths – During this game on the 26th, Ohtani struck out nine Rangers in five innings, had two hits, two RBIs, and scored three runs. Maddon pointed out the obvious, “A pretty complete game of baseball.”
- Ohtani Has Earned The Respect Of His Peers – Teammates Justin Upton called Ohtani, “most talented player I’ve ever seen.” Mets starter Marcus Stroman referred to him as “mythical legend in human form.”
- Ohtani Ruthlessly Self-Evaluates – After hitting 22 home runs as a rookie in 2018, injuries and other issues resulted in seasons that did not meet Ohtani’s personal expectations. His self-evaluation of his performance was “pathetic.”
- Everyone, Including Ohtani, Gets Better With Coaching – In 2018’s spring training, Ohtani visited Japanese hitting legend Ichiro Suzuki who helped him change his hitting form. Rather than doing a front leg kick, he know simply does a toe tap.
- Ohtani Demands Feedback And Coaching – Nippon-Ham Fighters former teammate Michael Crotta said of an 18-year-old Ohtani, “He was not afraid to speak about what he was doing or how he found success or where he struggled.”
- Ohtani Is A Progressive Thinker – He uses the Harada Method, a self-improvement technique focused on writing your goals down, constantly taking notes, and recording the lessons learned. He has also utilized innovative swimming techniques to strengthen his body.
- Ohtani Is Singularly Focused – Former manager Brad Ausmus said, “He wants to be the greatest baseball player ever. So he does everything he can to try and achieve that goal.” Former Angels GM Billy Eppler said, “He wants mastery and he’s going to stop at nothing.”
- Ohtani Is A Bridge-Builder – He utilized video games as a way to connect with his teammates.
- Great Leaders Like Ohtani Are Unique – They are rare and hard to find. Maddon said, “This is a unique athlete, and none of us have been there before.”
We are watching something historic in Shohei Ohtani. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
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