Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani is hungry for another WBC title.
Ohtani, who over the past two seasons played a pivotal role in helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win back-to-back World Series, is looking to write another chapter in his first ballot Baseball Hall of Fame storied career this coming spring.
Ohtani Will Be Returning to Play For Japan in March at WBC
Despite the short off-season from playing in what was last October a hard-fought World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Ohtani enthusiastically announced on November 24th on social media that he will once again play for the defending WBC (World Baseball Classic) champions Samurai Japan.
The tournament, which takes place on March 5, 2026, will be take place in Miami, Florida, Houston, Texas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tokyo, Japan and the championship game which is slated to be held on March 17, 2026 at loanDepot Park in Miami Florida.
On his Instagram post, Ohtani wrote, “Thank you to all the fans for another great season. I’ll train hard and look forward to seeing you all next year.” In another post written in Japanese, this baseball phenom wrote, “Happy to play and represent Japan again.”
A strong argument could be made that Ohtani’s finest hour representing Japan on the baseball field took place in 2023 at loanDepot Park in Miami Florida, when he cemented his status as a Japanese hero by striking out one time Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout on a 3-2 pitch for the final out of Japan’s 3-2 nail biting 2023 WBC championship win over the USA.
Not surprisingly, Ohtani excelled in the spotlight as he hit for a .435 average while mashing one home run and producing eight RBI’s in seven games. On the mound, Ohtani, who is 31 years of age, was all business as he couldn’t be touched in going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
Ohtani would go on to be named the 2023 WBC MVP as he led Japan to their third WBC title.
Ohtani Wins Second Straight NL MVP Award With the Dodgers and Fourth MVP in MLB Career
Dodger designated hitter/pitcher Ohtani is now a four-time MVP winner.
In his second season as a Dodger, Ohtani, affectionately known as “Shotime,” has another solid season, which saw this superstar hit for a .282 average with 146 runs scored, 172 hits, 55 home runs along with 102 RBI’s. Meanwhile, on the mound, Ohtani went 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA along with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched in winning his fourth MVP Award.
He first won the AL MVP awards in 2021 and 2023 when playing with the Los Angeles Angeles before winning consecutive NL MVP Awards with the Dodgers.
What some baseball fans might not realize is that Ohtani made MLB history by becoming the first ever player to win unanimously four MVP awards.
“The biggest thing,” Ohtani said through an interpreter “Is obviously, being able to win the World Series. That’s the first and foremost. You know, it’s icing on the cake to be able to get an individual award, being crowned MVP, but I just really appreciate the support from all my teammates, everybody around me, by support staff.”
Ohtani also joined Hall of Famer, the late Joe Morgan as being only the second player to ever win an MVP Award and a World Series in consecutive years. Morgan, who played for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s did it in 1975 and ’76 while with the Reds.
In winning this years NL MVP, Ohtani has now tied New York Yankees slugging outfielder Aaron Judge with four MVP Awards. The all-time leader is outfielder Barry Bonds who retired having won seven MVP Awards in his career.
Samurai Japan Favored to Repeat as 2026 WBC Champions
The return of Ohtani means that this coming March, Japan will be favored in this year’s World Baseball Classic.
Samurai Japan will come March 6, 2026 at the Tokyo Dome be playing out of Pool C which also consists of Taipei, Chinese, Korea, Australia and Czechia.
Meanwhile many MLB stars have already committed to this tournament including outfielders Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Cubs) who will be playing for the USA team.
Other players who will be wearing the USA colors include Pittsburgh Pirates ace pitcher Paul Skenes along with Kansas City Royals infielder Bobby Witt Jr. and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh who finished second in the AL MVP voting.
Main Image: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
