Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced on Saturday that Shohei Ohtani, the versatile two-way player, has opted out of pitching for Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Ohtani has chosen to focus exclusively on his role as the designated hitter for his home country. Roberts expressed full support for Ohtani’s decision, clarifying that the team would have backed him if he had decided to also pitch.
Meanwhile, Ohtani’s teammate and World Series MVP, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will be taking the mound for Japan in the WBC despite his extensive workload with the Dodgers last season. Roberts commended Yamamoto’s eagerness to participate and stated that the team fully supports his decision.
Ohtani, who had previously pitched for Japan in the 2023 WBC, notably securing the championship with a final strikeout against his former Angels teammate Mike Trout, faced a setback in 2024 due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament that required elbow surgery. This prevented him from pitching during his debut season with the Dodgers, where he primarily served as their designated hitter. However, Ohtani gradually returned to pitching last year, making four postseason starts as the Dodgers clinched their second consecutive World Series title.
Although Ohtani did not confirm his decision to skip pitching in the WBC during his conversation with reporters, he emphasized the importance of monitoring his physical condition and progression before making a final call. The 31-year-old expressed his satisfaction with his current health status, highlighting a regular off-season without the need for injury rehabilitation.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Roberts assured that Ohtani would receive appropriate rest between starts to manage his workload effectively. Despite Ohtani’s anticipated return to pitching for the full season in 2026, Roberts emphasized that the team would prioritize his well-being by avoiding short, intense outings.
The WBC, scheduled from March 5-17, will witness Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, who played together on Japan’s victorious 2023 team. However, Sasaki will not be pitching this time, following a mixed rookie season with the Dodgers. Additionally, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has opted out of playing for Canada in the WBC due to personal reasons, citing the need to stay close to his family.
As the team prepares to kick off spring training in Arizona on Feb. 13, Roberts is contemplating the starting lineup. He hinted at Ohtani leading off, with Will Smith in the fifth spot, and Mookie Betts likely batting third.
