The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering the early stages of the 2026 season with high expectations, but also considerable pressure on their young rookies.

Amidst this, an emotional moment unfolded in the locker room when global superstar Shohei Ohtani reportedly sent a personal, encouraging message to his young teammate Hyeseong Kim, who is facing a challenging start in MLB.

According to several internal sources, the message wasn’t just ordinary encouragement, but carried the weight of someone who has weathered the highest peaks and most intense pressures of modern baseball.

“You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep going. MLB isn’t for those who never make mistakes, it’s for those who never stop,” Ohtani reportedly told Kim in a private conversation at the Dodgers’ practice room.

Hyeseong Kim, one of the most promising young talents in the Dodgers, entered the season with significant attention from both the American media and Asian fans. However, like many rookies, he is undergoing a rigorous adjustment period to the speed of play, tactics, and immense pressure of MLB.

Some recent games have shown that Kim is still searching for consistency in both offense and defense. Inaccurate swings, slow reflexes—all create a familiar picture of a young player caught in the spotlight.

But in an environment where expectations are always at their highest, like the Dodgers, it’s not just about skill—it’s about mentality.

And that’s where Ohtani comes in.

In the Dodgers locker room, Shohei Ohtani is more than just an MVP, more than just a global icon. He also understands best what it feels like to be under the scrutiny of the media, international expectations, and the pressure to be perfect every day.

A coaching staff member revealed that Ohtani proactively spent time with Kim after practice, not as a big star, but as an older brother figure on the team.

“Shohei doesn’t talk much. But every word he says carries weight,” the source shared. “He sees himself a few years ago in Kim—a young, talented player, but consumed by expectations.”

Ohtani reportedly recounted the difficult early stages of his career in Japan and MLB, when he too faced doubt, criticism, and had to learn to bounce back from every setback.

According to teammates, Kim didn’t respond much after the conversation. He simply bowed his head, nodded slightly, and continued the practice session, which lasted almost an hour—an action seen as the strongest possible response.

A team member said:

“You can see that it changes the way he goes into the game. No more panic. Just focus.”

Soon after the conversation, Kim was noted to have a noticeably improved batting practice session, with more consistent timing and better pitch selection.

Over the years, the Dodgers have built an image of a team that is not only strong tactically, but also strong in locker room culture. Stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and now Ohtani are all seen as pillars of morale, helping young players integrate more quickly.

Ohtani, in particular, is gradually becoming the center of that mental ecosystem—a person who not only creates highlights on the court, but also exerts influence in the locker room.

An assistant coach commented:

“When Ohtani speaks, everyone listens. But more importantly, it’s the way he speaks—no judgment, no pressure, just understanding.”

Both Ohtani and Kim carry high expectations from Asia. But the difference lies in the fact that Ohtani has transformed that pressure into legend, while Kim is still in the early stages of that journey.

Korean and Japanese media have closely followed Kim’s progress with the Dodgers, making each game not just a game, but a psychological test.

In that context, Ohtani’s message is not only personal—but also symbolic: a transfer of experience between two generations of Asian players in MLB.

Although the season is still long, many within the Dodgers believe this moment could be a turning point for Hyeseong Kim.

Not because it erases mistakes, but because it changes how a young player perceives them.

“You can’t avoid pressure on the Dodgers,” a former player said. “But if you have someone like Ohtani behind you, that pressure can become motivation.”

In a team full of stars, the biggest moments sometimes don’t come from a home run or a decisive strikeout—but from a small conversation in the locker room.

And when Shohei Ohtani told Hyeseong Kim, “Keep going,” it wasn’t just encouragement.

It was a reminder that every legend started from the most challenging days—and sometimes, all a young player needs…is one person to believe in them before the whole world does.