Ohtani to represent Japan at 2026 WBC

Shohei Ohtani will represent Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the two-way phenom announced Monday on Instagram.

Japan will look to defend its 2023 WBC championship after defeating the United States in the finals.

Ohtani, the reigning WBC MVP, memorably recorded the save in the final game and struck out his then-teammate Mike Trout for the last out in the 3-2 victory.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is coming off another outstanding MLB season, winning the NL MVP unanimously. The 31-year-old hit 55 homers over 158 games as a DH while posting a 2.87 ERA across 47 innings as a pitcher in his return from a second Tommy John surgery.

Japan is in Pool C for the tournament with Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia, and Czechia. That group begins play March 6 at Tokyo Dome.