Did you say well, Roberts? LAD coach Roberts expressed his opposition to WBC's combined pitching and hitting

Nov 28, 2025

Did you say well, Roberts? LAD coach Roberts expressed his opposition to WBC's combined pitching and hitting



'I know WBC is important, but...Pitching puts a great strain on the arm

Shohei Ohtani, who led the National League MVP to his third consecutive victory and his team's second consecutive World Series victory, declared his participation in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) without any hesitation despite the Dodgers' concerns. As a representative of Japan, he once again expressed his strong will to be at the top of the world on his personal SNS. Now Ohtani's participation in the WBC has become a given. No one can stop him.

However, at least as far as the scope of Ohtani's activities is concerned, it can be constrained. The only person who can do that is LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Roberts did not break Ohtani's will to play in the WBC. However, Ohtani's activities on the WBC as a 'two-hitting business' appearance will likely be prevented. He made remarks that seemed to oppose the double whammy of pitching.




Japanese media Baseball Channel said on the 28th 'Otani may not be able to pitch at the WBC. Roberts said through local media in the U.S. that he expressed his opposition to (the combination of pitching and hitting)."

Did you say well, Roberts? LAD coach Roberts expressed his opposition to WBC's combined pitching and hitting
2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) match between Korea and Japan was held at Tokyo Dome, Japan on the 10th. Japan's Ohtani hits a double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tokyo (Japan) = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2023.03.10/
Roberts, of course, wants to dissuade Ohtani from playing in the WBC. In addition to Ohtani, I hope that Japanese pitchers, the core power of the team, such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the World Series MVP, and Rocky Sasaki, who played a great role in the bullpen at the end of the season, will only rest fully during the offseason. This is because playing in the WBC ahead of the opening of the season could have a bad effect on the regular league due to the physical burden. Moreover, if you get injured, you can ruin an entire season.

Did you say well, Roberts? LAD coach Roberts expressed his opposition to WBC's combined pitching and hitting
Shohei Ohtani, who officially announced his participation in the WBC in March next year, said he would consult with the Dodgers ahead of the tournament on the sidelines of the tournament.
However, Roberts did not officially oppose it. When he visited Tokyo, Japan on the 15th, he said "WBC is a very important competition for baseball players and participating countries. It is up to the players to decide whether to play or not, and it is also free for players (from the LA Dodgers) to participate on behalf of Japan. However, pitching puts a lot of pressure on the body, so I think it would be better to take a break for next season." It is a euphemism for the de facto opposition.




However, Ohtani was the first Japanese player with the Los Angeles Dodgers to announce that he would definitely play in the WBC. Roberts has no choice but to feel bloated. This is because Ohtani accounts for a huge portion of the Dodgers' power. If there is a problem with physical strength or physical condition due to participation in WBC, it will cause enormous damage.

Did you say well, Roberts? LAD coach Roberts expressed his opposition to WBC's combined pitching and hitting
Otani, who clinched victory over the U.S. in the March 2023 WBC Finals. AP Yonhap News
Even so, Ohtani's participation in the WBC cannot be invalidated at the level of Roberts or the club. Therefore, it is possible to limit the way the game is played with 'Minimum Safety Device'. The most obvious safety device is 'No two-wheeled business". If you only play the WBC schedule as a designated hitter, you may be less exposed to the risk of arm injury. The Japanese media Baseball Channel expects this very situation.

It is a very realistic scenario. Not only Roberts but also the Dodgers do not want Ohtani, who took the mound as a pitcher after rehabilitating his elbow this year, to get hurt again while throwing a ball in the WBC. Restrictions on the number of innings or a total ban on pitching can be imposed.




If Roberts and the Dodgers actually impose these restrictions on Ohtani, there could be an unexpected boon for the Korean national baseball team, which will face Japan in the first round. This is because there is a possibility of preventing Ohtani from being active on the mound and at-bat. 'Otani the batter' is also scary, but 'Otani is a nightmare. The stronger Roberts expresses his opposition, the more beneficial it is for the Korean national team.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.