Nothing is impossible! Yusei Kikuchi inspires young players to bravely pursue their dreams by sharing Shohei Ohtani's motivational journey.

Recently, Yusei Kikuchi, a Japanese pitcher for the MLB's Los Angeles Angels, held a speaking event in his hometown, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. He not only recounted how he was doubted and told he would "soon return home" when he first challenged the major leagues, but also inspired young players with the story of his junior Shohei Ohtani’s perseverance with the two-way player path that ultimately led to success.

The left-handed pitcher from Iwate recalled, "When we participated in Koshien, opponents who drew us thought they had a guaranteed win. Even when I admitted I wanted to become a professional baseball player, I was mocked." Later, when he decided to take on the major leagues, people teased him, saying he would "probably return to Japan soon."

Kikuchi transformed this frustration into motivation and eventually established himself in the majors. During the speech, he specifically cited his junior teammate Shohei Ohtani, now with the Dodgers: "When he proposed the two-way player idea, everyone thought it was impossible. But those who achieve greatness always face doubts and adversity." He firmly stated, "I still encounter difficulties now, and I always tell myself that persistence is the only solution. Ordinary people can only stand out by being persistent. Because I never gave up, I became who I am today."

Talking about his future plans, Kikuchi admitted uncertainty about how many more seasons he can play, but said he values receiving blessings and applause from others at retirement more than financial gain, joking that he hopes to keep pitching until he is 50 before retiring.

Regarding the World Baseball Classic starting next March, Kikuchi clearly expressed his willingness to participate and revealed that discussions about it are currently underway.