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There's no bigger stage in baseball than a World Series clash between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. This year, all eyes are on Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani, whose extraordinary talents have earned him a $700 million contract with the Dodgers. Ohtani's prowess at the plate, on the mound, and even on the base paths, where he can steal bases with ease, makes him a standout figure in the league.

However, it's not just Ohtani’s athletic feats that capture attention. Despite his superstar status, the 30-year-old is renowned for his humility, a trait inculcated during his formative years. Ohtani attended Hanamaki Higashi High School, where coach Hiroshi Sasaki emphasized developing character alongside athletic skill. As detailed in Jeff Fletcher's 2022 book "Sho-Time," Sasaki assigned chores to his players, with pitchers responsible for the often-disdained task of cleaning bathrooms to keep them grounded.

Sasaki’s philosophy was simple: since pitchers receive the most attention on the field, they should perform the humblest duties off it. "The mound is the most elevated place on the field. It's a stage," Sasaki explained to the LA Times. By making his pitchers clean bathrooms, he aimed to instill a sense of humility and respect for all roles, a lesson Ohtani embraced without complaint, even as a teenager who could already hit 99 mph on the radar gun.

This lesson continues to resonate with Ohtani, who remains down-to-earth despite his meteoric rise. Known to pick up garbage from the field even while earning millions, Ohtani’s approach to humility has only strengthened his legendary status.

The Yankees-Dodgers series has fans buzzing, with ticket prices soaring into the thousands. Much of this excitement revolves around the anticipated showdown between Ohtani and Yankees star Aaron Judge. But if there's one thing Ohtani has made clear, it's that he won’t be distracted by the bright lights and high stakes.

"The goal was to get this far," Ohtani said following the Dodgers' victory over the New York Mets to secure their spot in the World Series. "I also pictured getting this far with the contract that I've signed. I'm just glad we're at this stage."