"Every inning he'd come in, and it was a review. Unless he was preparing to lead off the next half-inning, Ohtani would march into the dugout, find an empty spot near the bench and convene with his catcher and Prior to dissect what happened and plan what would follow. Ohtani wanted to know how his stuff was playing and how hitters were responding, whether the game plan was working or whether adjustments were needed."
"Most guys will take a breather. He'll start rattling off and start talking about what's going on because he knows obviously, his time's limited. I didn't have an appreciation that that's how it was going to be. I thought it was going to be more pregame, and then he goes and plays, and maybe there's some more post-evaluation. But he was like every other pitcher -- present in the moment."
Shohei Ohtani's approach to being a two-way player surprised Los Angeles Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. Rather than limiting their interactions, Ohtani actively sought between-inning conversations to review his pitching performance and discuss adjustments. He would rush from the dugout to discuss his stuff with Prior and his catcher, often while preparing to hit. Ohtani demonstrated exceptional focus and presence in the moment, treating his pitching responsibilities with the same dedication as other full-time pitchers. Dodgers officials observed that Ohtani displayed two distinct personalities: relaxed and jovial when only hitting, but intensely focused with a sharp edge when also pitching.
Read at ESPN.com
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