Shohei Ohtani’s Secret Weapon: How his “guilty pleasure” fuels the Dodgers superstar’s mental balance

For Shohei Ohtani, the secret to navigating the immense pressure of a $700 million spotlight isn’t just found in the batting cage-it’s found in the pages of a Japanese comic book.

While the world sees a stoic, record-breaking machine on the field, former Dodgers teammate Anthony Banda recently revealed that Ohtani’s true “guilty pleasure” and mental escape is his deep-rooted passion for reading manga.

Appearing on the Foul Territory show, Banda-now a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins-shared that Ohtani uses his downtime to disconnect from the rigors of Major League Baseball.

According to Banda, this hobby allows the Japanese superstar to find a crucial mental balance that sustains his high-level performance.

Ohtani: The clubhouse jokester

Banda also debunked the myth of Ohtani as a purely serious, laser-focused athlete. In the privacy of the locker room, he described the two-time World Series champion as a “really funny guy” who is constantly joking with teammates.

“He’s an integral part of the team’s chemistry,” Banda noted, suggesting that Ohtani’s ability to lighten the mood in the clubhouse is just as important as his ability to change the game with a single swing.

Since signing his historic contract prior to the 2024 season, Ohtani’s impact on the Los Angeles Dodgers has been nothing short of legendary. He has successfully:

• Led the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles (2024 and 2025).
• Created the “50/50 Club,” becoming the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
• Maintained peak physical condition by focusing exclusively on his offensive output while managing his pitching workload.

Shohei draws inspiration from the pages

Ohtani’s manga collection isn’t just for casual entertainment; it serves as a source of inspiration. His favorite titles include timeless sports classics like “Slam Dunk” and “Major,” as well as modern shonen hits like “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “Black Clover.”

For Ohtani, these stories offer more than just an escape; they provide life lessons and strategic mindsets that he translates directly to the diamond.

As he continues to rewrite the record books, his love for manga remains a grounded reminder that even the greatest athletes in the world need a moment of tranquility amidst the daily hustle.