November 25 – Shohei Ohtani, a two-time World Series champion, will attempt to add a second World Baseball Classic title to his haul when he competes for the defending champion Japanese team again next year.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old two-way superstar made the announcement Monday on social media that he would again participate in the international tournament.<\/p>\n
Ohtani is fresh off another spectacular season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the unanimous selection as the National League’s Most Valuable Player after going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 pitching starts while leading the league at the plate with a .622 slugging percentage, a 1.014 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and a career-high 146 runs scored.<\/p>\n
In 158 regular-season games this year, Ohtani batted .282 with 55 home runs and 102 RBIs en route to his fourth career MVP honor.<\/p>\n
Then Ohtani helped the Dodgers complete a run to their second straight World Series championship. He hit .265 with eight homers and 14 RBIs in 17 playoff games while going 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts on the mound.<\/p>\n
It is unclear if Ohtani will both hit and pitch for the Japanese team, as he only returned to the mound in June after recovering from elbow surgery.<\/p>\n
The most recent edition of the WBC was held in 2023, and Ohtani got the save in the championship game against the United States. He struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan’s 3-2 win. Ohtani was honored as the event’s MVP after hitting .435\/.606\/.739 with one homer and eight RBIs in seven games. He compiled a 2-0 pitching record with one save and a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n
Japan will be attempting to improve on its record total of three WBC titles in five editions of the tournament. Competing in Pool C with Australia, South Korea, Czechia and Taiwan, Japan opens group play on March 6 in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
The quarterfinals will be played in Houston and Miami, and the semifinals and final are slated for Miami. The title game is scheduled for March 17.<\/p>\n
–Field Level Media<\/p>\n
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