Shohei Ohtani is marking a new beginning in the MLB world. A treasure in the baseball universe, the Japanese player’s unmatched skills are somehow in tune with his exceptional humbleness. From on-field to off-field displays, Shotime keeps proving why he deserves the immense fan love he’s showered with. One such incident has to do with sunflower seeds, which displays how Ohtani’s Japanese upbringing makes him stand apart in the West.

While most baseball players chew them, Ohtani’s habit comes with a different policy. Sunflower seeds are an everyday item that almost every clubhouse has. Players have been chewing them for decades to keep their mouths active and avoid discomfort. Besides that, munching on them also releases anxiety and stress. However, they’re not the most neatly eaten foods, making them messy to be around. This is where Ohtani’s ‘no litter’ policy comes into effect.

Shohei Ohtani is Strictly Against Mess

The untold clubhouse stories often find their way into books. The legendary records of Ohtani have made him the subject of several, and they record even the tiniest events of the star’s life. Among them comes Jay Paris and Mark Langston’s Shohei Ohtani: The Amazing Story of Baseball’s Two-Way Japanese Superstar. The authors highlight the gestures that make him different.

Like many others, Shotime also chews sunflower seeds. Not only that, he even “lands in the camp that can go through a pack with the best of them.” But the difference, per the authors, is that no chewed seeds are found in his cleats. Not because he’s constantly moving but because he hates to make a mess.

Page number 21 of the book says the Japanese star has a strict ‘no litter’ policy to reduce the effort of the attendants. The book says, “his discarded seeds go in a cup he keeps nearby.” All these efforts are only to reduce the efforts of the clubhouse helpers.?

While these little efforts already make a difference, the two-way phenomenon has other habits that distinguish him from others. Ohtani even tries to reduce the effort of the batboy wherever possible.

Shotime’s Unique Heart-Touching Initiative For the Batboys

Batboys are an integral part of every baseball game, but not many acknowledge their effort consistently. Again, the 21st-century Babe Ruth stands apart. The book records that after drawing a walk, the Japanese pitcher “removes the protective gear from his ankle, elbow, and wrist areas, then he arranges them neatly.” Once he is done, he waits for the batboy to arrive.?

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Some of these gestures are heartwarming that fans don’t always get to witness. Ohtani, with his unique Japanese upbringing, is setting an example for the younger generation.?

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