Shohei Ohtani is among the Los Angeles Dodgers players who will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The four-time MVP is again playing for Team Japan as the country looks to repeat as champions in the international competition.
Ohtani memorably led the Japanese baseball team to a gold medal in the 2023 WBC. He closed out the championship game by striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout.
Whether Ohtani pitches or not in the upcoming WBC remains to be seen, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts relayed the organization is hopeful he only is a designated hitter for Samurai Japan.
“I’m hoping he doesn’t but I don’t know,” Roberts answered when asked if Ohtani will pitch in the 2026 WBC. “Shohei is very in tune with his body, but I would say probably the thought is he’s just going to hit. But I don’t know. I haven’t talked to Sho.”
Ohtani returned to the mound this past June after not pitching at all in 2024 while recovering from right elbow surgery.
The Dodgers took a methodical approach to building up Ohtani and fully stretched him out by the playoffs. He wound up logging 67.1 innings between the regular season and postseason.
Given his importance to the Dodgers, Ohtani may be asked to not pitch in the 2026 WBC. However, Roberts previously said the team would support him if he insists on being a two-way player for Team Japan.
Shohei Ohtani joined by Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Team Japan roster
Although there hasn’t been a formal announcement just yet, a report indicated Yoshinobu Yamamoto is joining Ohtani on the Team Japan roster for the 2026 WBC.
Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki were also part of the 2023 team that defeated the United States in the championship round. Sasaki is skipping the international tournament next year.
The Dodgers were presumed to have some reservations about their potential participation as well, given that Yamamoto logged a career-high 173.2 innings in 2025 and Sasaki missed most of his rookie season due to a shoulder injury.
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