The recovery philosophy of Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani treats sleep as one of the most important parts of his athletic performance. For the Dodgers superstar, sleep isn’t merely rest. It’s a fundamental component of training, recovery, and longevity.
10 hours
Typical total sleep target
2 hours
Reported pregame nap
In a 2024 Sports Illustrated investigation, Ohtani was reported to aim for approximately 10 hours of nighttime sleep and a two-hour pregame nap. He has described sleep as his top priority.
His sleep habits
- Prioritize approximately 10 hours of sleep. In a May 2024 interview, Ohtani personally confirmed around 10 hours total, sometimes waking to eat breakfast before going back to sleep.
- Take substantial naps. His reported pregame routine has included naps lasting as long as two hours.
- Use a personalized mattress. He sleeps on a Nishikawa AiR SX mattress, reportedly worth approximately $3,000, selected using a 3D body scan.
- Travel with his own bedding. He brings a portable, foldable Nishikawa mattress on road trips and places it over hotel mattresses to maintain a familiar sleeping surface.
- Use a customized pillow. His pillow is unusually firm to accommodate his broad shoulders.
- Wake naturally whenever possible. He has said he avoids using an alarm clock and doesn’t follow an elaborate bedtime ritual.
- Track recovery. Reporting in September 2024 documented his use of a WHOOP wearable to monitor sleep quality, physical recovery, and other physiological signals.
Is he still sleeping 10 hours in 2026?
Apparently, that’s still his preferred target. In June 2026, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts discussed Ohtani’s preference for 10 hours of sleep per night.
However, Ohtani acknowledged getting less sleep after becoming a father in April 2025. His family welcomed a second child in June 2026, so his actual nightly sleep may vary.
What weightlifters can learn from Ohtani
The fascinating principle is that recovery is not separate from training. Recovery is part of training.
For serious strength athletes, getting sufficient sleep supports performance, learning, and physiological recovery. But 12 hours isn’t a universal prescription: sports sleep researchers recommend individualizing sleep based on workload and personal needs rather than copying an elite athlete’s exact schedule.
Ohtani’s philosophy can be summarized beautifully:
Don’t sacrifice sleep to train more. Organize your life so you can both train hard and recover fully.
His approach makes sleep a deliberate investment in tomorrow’s performance—not merely the end of today’s activities.