Shohei Ohtani's game asks a cleat to do more: handle the mound, the batter's box and the basepaths. His first signature model, the New Balance FuelCell Ohtani 1, was developed with his input around those demands. The White/Gold edition pairs that two-way approach with a design detail rooted in Japanese baseball: the raised triangles across the toe echo the ceilings of ballparks in Japan.
That pattern also has a job to do. It reinforces the molded CPU upper while allowing the shoe to bend, helping it withstand repeated pitching toe drag. Lightweight mesh sits beneath it. A TPU piece extends upward from the outside of the sole to help keep the foot from shifting sideways.
FuelCell foam adds cushioning beneath your feet. The ten-spike sole is designed to sit closer to the ground, and its smooth, polished surface helps reduce dirt buildup. These are metal baseball cleats for fields where metal spikes are permitted; check facility requirements before using them for indoor or turf practice.
Use men's sizing and the New Balance Baseball Cleats Size Guide to check foot length. Try them with game socks and make sure the toe area feels comfortable when you bend or push off. The Black/Gold version shares the same construction, so the color choice comes down to preference. The reinforced upper is a useful feature for pitchers, but it does not make the shoe immune to wear. Check the toe regularly if you drag it across the dirt.