Los Angeles
AP
—
Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Japan in next year’s World Baseball Classic, the two-way Los Angeles Dodgers star announced on social media Monday evening.
Ohtani helped Japan win the 2023 WBC, placing out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the ultimate out of the championship sport towards the United States. He was named MVP of the event.
Ohtani gained his fourth MVP award this month, shortly after he helped the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title. He returned to the mound this season after not pitching in 2024 whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure.
In the postseason, he had arguably the most effective sport in main league historical past, placing out 10 batters and hitting three homers because the Dodgers accomplished a four-game NL Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee.
Ohtani didn’t specify in his submit whether or not he plans to pitch for Japan in the WBC, which begins on March 5.