Shohei Ohtani, a versatile player, has opted out of pitching for Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, as confirmed by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Roberts mentioned that Ohtani made the decision to concentrate solely on his role as a designated hitter for his home country. However, Roberts assured that the team would have fully supported Ohtani had he chosen to both pitch and hit.
In contrast, Ohtani’s teammate and World Series MVP, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will be taking on the pitching duties for Japan in the WBC, despite his significant workload with the Dodgers in the previous season. Roberts expressed his support for Yamamoto’s decision during the team’s fan fest.
Ohtani had previously participated in the 2023 WBC, where he pitched for Japan and played a crucial role in securing the championship by striking out Mike Trout of the United States. Following an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament in 2023, Ohtani underwent elbow surgery, preventing him from pitching during his first season with the Dodgers in 2024, where he primarily served as a designated hitter. He gradually returned to pitching in the subsequent year, making four postseason starts during the Dodgers’ successful run to their second consecutive World Series victory.
Despite not confirming his decision to skip pitching in the WBC, Ohtani mentioned to reporters that he needed to assess his physical condition and progression before making a final determination. The 31-year-old emphasized that he is currently in good health, having had a regular off-season without injury concerns.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Roberts stated that he plans to manage Ohtani carefully as he transitions back to pitching full-time in 2026. He emphasized the importance of providing ample rest days between Ohtani’s starts and avoiding shorter outings of two or three innings.
Apart from Ohtani and Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, another member of Japan’s 2023 WBC championship team, will not be pitching in the upcoming tournament. The WBC is scheduled to take place from March 5 to 17.
Meanwhile, Dodgers’ first baseman Freddie Freeman revealed that he would not be participating in the WBC for personal reasons, citing the need to stay close to his family. As the team prepares to start spring training in Arizona on February 13, Roberts is considering various lineup options, expressing confidence in having Ohtani lead off and making strategic decisions based on the team’s composition.