How Shohei Ohtani managed to become a World Series champion

NEW YORK – Shohei Ohtani struck out with one arm.

Limited by the left shoulder he had partially dislocated just four days earlier, Ohtani was more or less a decoy at this point, which, coincidentally or not, is the name of his world-famous dog.

It didn't matter.

He wanted to strike. When Tommy Edman issued a walk in the decisive eighth inning of Game 5 of the World Series, Ohtani entered the circle.

One problem: He skipped the line.

Ohtani realized his mistake as Gavin Lux climbed the steps to the dugout and temporarily retreated to the bench.

Lux recalled chuckling as he told Ohtani, “Relax man, I'm first.”

Lux tied the game with a sacrifice fly and Betts won it with another, while Ohtani settled for reaching base on a catcher's interference call, but the on-deck circle sequence was telling nonetheless.

Ohtani wanted to be in the batter's box while the game was on the line. Even in a compromised state, he was not afraid of the moment.

Ohtani, baseball's best player of the last four years, became a World Series champion on Wednesday night. His crowning achievement came at Yankee Stadium, where the Dodgers earned a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees, winning the best-of-seven series four games to one.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani gestures in the dugout before Game 5 of the World Series against the New York Yankees.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

As his teammates showered him with beer and champagne in the middle of the visiting clubhouse, Ohtani held up the commissioner's trophy.

“Really, I’m just happy,” Ohtani said in Japanese.

The championship marked a fitting conclusion to the greatest single season in Dodgers history, in which Ohtani became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers after playing six seasons for the Angels, is expected to win his third MVP award in four years.

“I think there's a legitimate argument that he's the best player to ever play the game,” said Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations.

Ohtani is more focused than any other player. He is more talented than any other player. He could be braver than any other player.

It takes courage to be as brazenly ambitious as Ohtani, who said seven years ago when he left Japan for the major leagues that his intention was to become the No. 1 player in the world.

“He wants to be the greatest baseball player in the history of the world,” Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly said.

To dream like Ohtani does is to be doomed. Only one player can be the best. Not every player has the determination to face such challenges, not even the most talented players. Especially the most talented players who have the most fragile egos.

As much success as he has had over the last four years, Ohtani has also endured some failures.

In his first three seasons with the Angels, he wasn't nearly the player he wanted to be. He underwent two Tommy John surgeries. He ended up leaving the Angels without ever appearing in a playoff game for them.

That didn't stop him from dreaming of more.

The extent of his ambition was most clearly demonstrated in a goal chart he compiled as a senior at Hanamaki Higashi High School.

He planned to throw a pitch at 175 kilometers per hour, or about 109 miles per hour. He wanted to throw multiple no-hitters. At this point in his career, he dreamed of winning multiple World Baseball Classic titles and multiple Cy Young Awards.

The only one of those items he has checked off is the WBC title, which he won once. But that's not the point. The point was that he wasn't afraid to set and pursue outrageous goals.

Dodgers President Stan Kasten (right) celebrates with Shohei Ohtani after the team's World Series victory over the New York Yankees.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Given that background, it was entirely expected that he would try to play with a partially separated shoulder if he could.

“Even after I got hurt, I wanted to get ready to play,” Ohtani said. “More than anything, it was an honor to be told I was needed. I’m grateful they told me that.”

In the final three games of the World Series, Ohtani was just one of 11. He finished the postseason with a .230 batting average and three home runs, 13 runs batted in and 14 runs scored in 16 games. He also struck out 22 times.

“He played with one arm in the postseason,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Most guys would probably be out, but there was no denying the fact that he was playing, posting and being in the lineup.”

His reward was another drunken locker room celebration where he spilled beer on his teammates and momentarily put aside the burden of genius he carries with him almost every day. At one point, Ohtani mischievously snuck up on Friedman, who was surrounded by reporters, and splashed champagne in his face.

“Nine more, nine more!” Ohtani yelled at Friedman.

He probably wasn't kidding.