Ohtani announces intention to play for Japan in '26 Classic seeking title repeat
This browser does not support the video element.
Shohei Ohtani says he will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, seeking yet another repeat after his Dodgers successfully defended their title this past season.
Ohtani on Monday announced his intention to play in the upcoming WBC, adding baseball's biggest global superstar to the already star-studded list of players participating in the tournament in March.
Japan begins play in Pool C of the 2026 Classic on March 6 at Tokyo Dome. The reigning WBC champions will face Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia and Czechia in their pool.
Ohtani, who just won his fourth unanimous MVP Award in the last five seasons in MLB, is also the reigning World Baseball Classic MVP. He won the award after leading Japan to the country's third gold medal in the 2023 Classic.
In the last WBC, Ohtani provided one of the most memorable moments in World Baseball Classic history: striking out Mike Trout for the final out of the championship game as Samurai Japan defeated Team USA.
This browser does not support the video element.
As a hitter, Ohtani batted .435 with one home run, eight RBIs and a 1.345 OPS in seven games in the tournament. As a pitcher, he went 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts in three outings, including closing out the title game.
Ohtani, who led the Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series championship this year, did so in his return to being a two-way player. He returned to pitching in June 2025 after elbow surgery kept him off the mound for all of 2024.
This season, Ohtani had a career-high 55 home runs as a hitter and posted a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts as a pitcher, and he both hit and pitched throughout Los Angeles' postseason run. It's not yet known if Ohtani will be a two-way player for Japan in the 2026 WBC, as he prepares for his first full season as a pitcher for the Dodgers.
Several of the other biggest names in the Major Leagues had already committed to playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, including Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes for the U.S., Francisco Lindor for Puerto Rico and Salvador Perez for Venezuela.