Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been a dominant figure since his arrival in MLB for his power at bat and security on the mound, but he has also become a global cultural icon of baseball. In the 2025 season, he had an extraordinary campaign with 55 home runs, 102 runs batted in and an OPS of 1.014 with the bat, but on the mound he also excelled with an ERA of 2.87.
His popularity is so great that his National League Championship Series home run balls were valued at millions of dollars. However, off the diamond there is a lingering curiosity among fans, who question why the Japanese player continues to use a translator despite having lived in the United States for more than a decade. The truth is that his English has evolved over the years, but there are reasons why Ohtani prefers to have an interpreter.
Does Shohei Ohtani speak English? Here’s how his language has improved since he arrived in MLB
Since his debut in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2018, Ohtani has made remarkable progress in learning English. During the championship celebration with the Dodgers, he surprised everyone by addressing the fans directly in his second language at the team’s motivation:
This is a very special moment for me. It’s a great honor to be here and to be part of this team. Congratulations, Los Angeles! Thank you, fans!
Although he still uses a translator, the two-time National League champion is more confident speaking in his second language. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that he communicates smoothly in English during training and conversations with his teammates and this is because most of the population in the United States only speaks one language, so he has had to learn over time.
Why does Shohei Ohtani still use a translator in interviews and conferences?
Shohei Ohtani has grown in his command of English, however, he prefers to continue using a translator when interacting with the media. His current interpreter, Will Ireton, has worked with him since the 2024 season after replacing Ippei Mizuhara, who was fired over a financial scandal
All of this has a decision behind it and that is that the Japanese wants to have precision and greater control in their communication, ensuring that their statements are exactly what they think and not lend themselves to misunderstandings. That is why many fans remember Ichiro Suzuki, who also preferred to speak through a translator even though he was able to speak and communicate in English.
For now, Shohei Ohtani is playing in the 2025 World Series, where he is preparing for his debut as a pitcher in this instance, in addition to already having a home run in the game one loss to the Blue Jays. Now they are preparing for the second game in which they will try to even the series before traveling to Los Angeles.
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