In his prime? Ohtani, who has skills + personality + patriotism, re-emphasizes his willingness to play in WBC
Nov 26, 2025
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Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers), who was unanimously named MLB MVP for the third consecutive year, once again emphasized his physical condition and his willingness to participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). It is the best good news for Japanese baseball, which will participate in the WBC, and the worst bad news for Korea, a rival country.
On the 25th (Korean time), Ohtani said on his SNS, "I've wanted to go on WBC for a long time. It was my first time at the last tournament, and it was a great performance. It is an honor for me to be elected as a representative of Japan. I'm looking forward to this competition as well," he declared his official participation in the WBC in March next year.
Ohtani, who returned as a pitcher after rehabilitating his elbow this year, played Game 7 of the World Series, helping the Dodgers win their second consecutive title. Therefore, there was a prospect that it would be difficult to participate in next year's WBC as a break. LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also reacted negatively to the participation of Japanese Dodgers players, including Ohtani, Yamamoto Yoshinobu and Sasaki Rocky, in the WBC when he visited Tokyo, Japan last week. Roberts said, "(Players) are free to participate in the WBC on behalf of Japan. However, I think it would be better to take a break (without attending the WBC) for next season because pitching can put considerable strain on the body."
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On the 26th, he once again emphasized his willingness to participate in the WBC through online interviews with Japanese media such as the Kyodo News Agency, while also mentioning his physical condition.
In this interview, Ohtani said, "I don't know yet how I'm going to pitch in the WBC. I think we need to make some plans to separate when we throw the ball from when we don't throw it," he said, stressing that he will prepare various scenarios as much as possible without strain on the body.
He then revealed that his current state is at the level of 'Electricity'. He didn't hesitate to ask the question, `Do you think it's the best time in the next few years when you say it's the best time in the next few years?' he said. `When I look at training and my physical condition, I think it's the best time"How you spend the offseason will determine how high you can go to the next level" he said.
This means that Ohtani has considerable confidence in his current physical condition and thinks he has room for further growth in the future. I'm already a 'dehumanized ' player, and it's amazing that I think I might develop further.
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South Korea has already been eliminated early in the first round at the WBC for the last three times in a row, becoming a `paper tiger.' I was also beaten by Ohtani during the 2023 WBC. At that time, Ohtani came out as the third designated hitter against Korea in the first round and led Japan to a 13-4 victory with two hits, one RBI, two runs, two walks and one strikeout in three at-bats. In the end, Ohtani batted .435 (10 hits in 23 at-bats) in seven games as a batter during the 2023 WBC, one home run, eight RBIs, nine runs and 10 walks, and two wins, one save and a 1.86 ERA in three games as a pitcher to lead Japan to the WBC championship. Of course, Ohtani was the MVP.
If Ohtani faces Japan in next year's WBC, he could be humiliated again by 'early eliminating the first round'. This is because the first opponent in the first round is Japan. They will meet at Tokyo Dome in Japan on March 7 next year. From South Korea's point of view, it should be hoped that Ohtani will be injured during the offseason.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
