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Shohei Ohtani Announces He Will Play for Japan in Next Year's World Baseball Classic
- On Monday, Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram he will play for Team Samurai in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which starts March 5 with Japan in Pool C.
- As background, Ohtani's 2023 WBC performance showed he hit.435 with a home run, eight RBIs and a 1.345 OPS in seven games, earning MVP honors.
- Given his recent medical and workload history, Shohei Ohtani's post did not specify whether he will pitch, and the Los Angeles Dodgers could seek limits after his second UCL repair and heavy postseason workload.
- Japan's title defense will be affected because Team Samurai seeks a fourth WBC title with Shohei Ohtani as the face of the team, while Dodgers' 2026 pitching plans could be complicated by Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki's participation.
- Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said earlier this month talks with the three Japanese players about WBC participation hadn't occurred, and manager Dave Roberts told media `We'll support them`.
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Shohei Ohtani will look for the bi-championship of the World Baseball Classic with Japan. Through an Instagram post, Shohei thanked Los Angeles Dodgers fans for the support he received this 2025 and by the way, confirmed that he will be in the Japanese team to defend the crown of the World Classic. "Happy to play and represent Japan again," wrote Ohtani on the social network. Shohei was the pitcher who pulled out the last three outs of Japan's t…
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star announced Monday night on social media.
·Calhoun, United States
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Total News Sources41
Leaning Left9Leaning Right2Center17Last UpdatedBias Distribution61% Center
Bias Distribution
- 61% of the sources are Center
61% Center
L 32%
C 61%
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