Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout have been two of the most talked about MLB players in 2023. While both star baseballers play for the Los Angeles Angels, the power-hitting duo faced each other in different jerseys for the first time ever in March 2023. The World Baseball Classic was already a much-anticipated battle, but Ohtani vs Trout made it an unforgettable. Teammates turned rivals, both extremely talented players in their own right – who wouldn’t want to watch the two face off?

Interestingly, while the two team captains may have clashed with different teammates during a game, Ohtani and Trout are good friends off the field. The two often talk about each other in the media and during one of those interviews, Trout revealed a surprising fact about the Japanese phenom.

Shohei Ohtani may be competitive but Mike Trout respects him for it

Being a sports personality brings with it a natural hunger for victory. Some are content to reach one goal and let things stay the same, while others achieve greatness. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are similar in their zeal for success. However, unlike pop culture would have one believe, not everyone in a position of fame is the arrogant type.

In a recent interview with Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 10-time MLB All-Star talked about all things baseball. Of course, Ohtani was a major topic of discussion as well. After discussing what that final WBC at-bat was like for him, Trout had nothing but words of praise for the two-way phenomenon. “Shohei is a good dude – great teammate, just one of the guys that wants to win. We’re both competitive but he’s not a big cocky guy,” Trout told Betts.

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True athletes often hold others in their field in high esteem and Trout proves that no matter the outcome of a game, he will always have respect for Ohtani. Likewise, the Japanese player, Ohtani, also holds Trout in high regard. In fact, it was this understanding that helped his team win the WBC Final.

Ohtani had to shed his admiration for his Los Angeles Angels teammate

In his famous speech before the World Baseball Classic final, team Japan’s captain had some paramount words to say to his fellow teammates. Ohtani pointed out that as long as the players respected their opponents, they would never be able to play to their full potential and overcome their limits. The video of his speech went viral because it was truly a moment out of a sports drama, with only the inspirational music missing in the background.

“Let’s stop admiring them… If you admire them, you can’t surpass them. We came here to surpass them, to reach the top. For one day, let’s throw away our admiration for them and just think about winning,” some of Ohtani’s speech went.

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Truly, who wouldn’t feel fired up after hearing such passionate words? No wonder Team Japan won. Even though the moment brought Trout and his teammate face to face for one game, the two are back to being old friends in the same colored jerseys. While the Japanese player’s future after 2023 is unclear, wherever he ends up, Trout will probably be happy for him.