16+ min ago (196+ words) The Dodgers star has already made the United States suffer before The Japanese two-way superstar confirmed on Monday his intention to participate in the tournament, adding the biggest name in baseball right now to an event that will take place next March. This news boosts global interest in the WBC 2026, especially among fans following Ohtani's historic run. Japan will open Group C play in the 2026 WBC on March 6 at the Tokyo Dome-a massive event for the defending champions, who will face Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia, and Czechia (Czech Republic) in pool play. Ohtani is coming off winning his fourth unanimous MVP in the last five MLB seasons. It's also worth remembering that he is the reigning WBC MVP after leading Japan to its third gold medal in the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ohtani delivered one of the most epic moments…...

44+ min ago (419+ words) After playing into November and winning a second consecutive World Series championship with the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram on Monday that he will play for Team Samurai in the World Baseball Classic next spring. "Dear fans, thank you for sharing this wonderful season with me. I will train hard and see you again next year," Ohtani posted in Japanese. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to play again representing Japan." Ohtani was named the MVP of the 2023 WBC, when he memorably struck out Mike Trout to end the gold-medal game against Team USA. As Japan's DH, Ohtani hit .435 with a home run, eight RBIs and a 1.345 OPS in seven games during the tournament. He was 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in three appearances as a pitcher. Ohtani's post does not specify whether he will participate for Japan as a…...

1+ hour, 33+ min ago (172+ words) Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he announced on social media Monday night. Japan will be looking to repeat after winning gold in the 2023 Classic. Ohtani won the tournament's MVP award and memorably struck out former teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the deciding game against Team USA. Ohtani, who returned to the mound this past season after not pitching for nearly two years following a second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament. He did not say in his post whether he would be pitching for Japan. The WBC kicks off on March 5, with Japan beginning group play in Pool C along with Australia, South Korea, Czechia and Chinese Taipei. Team USA will be in Pool B. Team USA has already received commitments from stars Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh…...

1+ hour, 38+ min ago (442+ words) Shohei Ohtani finished his second season with the Los Angeles Dodgers the same way he did in his debut year with the organization: on top of the baseball world. Ohtani helped Los Angeles capture a second straight World Series title, this time contributing both at the plate and on the mound after serving exclusively as a designated hitter in his first year with the club. Across 158 regular season games at the plate, the 30-year-old Japanese star posted a .282 batting average, a .392 on-base percentage, a 1.014 OPS, 55 home runs and 102 RBIs while serving as the Dodgers" leadoff hitter. On the mound, he delivered a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings, striking out 62 batters as he ramped back into starting pitching form. His two-way excellence earned him a third consecutive MVP Award, further cementing his place among the game"s all-time greats as he continues to…...

1+ hour, 46+ min ago (592+ words) Every small movement of the eyes or wiggle of the fingers provides hope for Rio Foster's mother. Foster, the Angels minor leaguer who suffered serious brain injuries in a car accident in September, is now making gradual progress at a hospital in Atlanta. Foster remains unconscious, but not in a coma, according to his mother, Iris Cleveland. She said his eyes are open and he is breathing on his own. He can sometimes respond to instructions to move a finger, but he doesn't do it consistently. "The doctors tell me that by him being young and healthy, he could make a full recovery," Cleveland said. "That is a possibility. But the thing about that is they can't tell me a time frame." Although it's been nearly three months since the accident and Foster still hasn't regained consciousness, Cleveland said doctors…...

2+ hour, 1+ min ago (362+ words) Shohei Ohtani will play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, seeking yet another repeat after his Dodgers successfully defended their title this past season. Ohtani on Monday announced his intention to play in the upcoming WBC, adding baseball's biggest global superstar to the already star-studded list of players participating in the tournament in March. Japan begins play in Pool C of the 2026 Classic on March 6 at Tokyo Dome. The reigning WBC champions will face Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia and Czechia in their pool. Ohtani, who just won his fourth unanimous MVP Award in the last five seasons in MLB, is also the reigning World Baseball Classic MVP. He won the award after leading Japan to the country's third gold medal in the 2023 Classic. In the last WBC, Ohtani provided one of the most memorable moments in World Baseball…...

2+ hour, 4+ min ago (164+ words) Updated on: November 24, 2025 / 10:32 PM PST / AP Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic, the two-way Los Angeles Dodgers star announced on social media Monday night. Ohtani helped Japan win the 2023 WBC, striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the championship game against the United States. He was named MVP of the tournament. Ohtani'won his fourth MVP award'this month, shortly after he helped the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title. He returned to the mound this season after not pitching in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In the postseason, he had arguably the best game in major league history, striking out 10 batters and hitting three homers as the Dodgers completed a four-game NL Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee. Ohtani did not specify in his post whether…...

4+ hour, 41+ min ago (280+ words) Shohei Ohtani, a two-time World Series champion, will attempt to add a second World Baseball Classic title to his haul when he competes for the defending champion Japanese team again next year. The 31-year-old two-way superstar made the announcement Monday on social media that he would again participate in the international tournament. Ohtani is fresh off another spectacular season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the unanimous selection as the National League's Most Valuable Player after going 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 pitching starts while leading the league at the plate with a .622 slugging percentage, a 1.014 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and a career-high 146 runs scored. In 158 regular-season games this year, Ohtani batted .282 with 55 home runs and 102 RBIs en route to his fourth career MVP honor. Then Ohtani helped the Dodgers complete a run to their second straight World Series championship. He hit…...

4+ hour, 44+ min ago (232+ words) LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani announced Monday he will play for defending champion Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March. "I am happy to be able to represent Japan again," Ohtani wrote. Ohtani made his WBC debut in 2023 and was named MVP of the tournament for his impact on the mound and at the plate. Japan will open its WBC campaign against Group C opponent Taiwan at Tokyo Dome on March 6. The quarterfinals onward will be staged in the United States, with the final at Miami's loanDepot park on March 17. Ohtani on Nov. 14 was named National League MVP, winning the fourth unanimous MVP Award of his MLB career, after a stellar season culminating in back-to-back World Series championships for the Dodgers. The 31-year-old told reporters at the time that he was "waiting for word" about…...

5+ hour, 18+ min ago (756+ words) Shohei Ohtani will once again represent Team Japan in next year's World Baseball Classic. Whether or not he pitches in the international tournament, however, remains unclear. On Monday, Ohtani announced on Instagram he is planning to participate in the WBC for the second time in his career. In the 2023 WBC, he won tournament MVP with a .435 batting average and 1.86 pitching ERA, helping Japan to that year's title. He punctuated the event with his memorable strikeout of Mike Trout for the final out in the championship game. "I'm happy to play again representing Japan," Ohtani wrote in Japanese on Monday. The question now is whether Ohtani will pitch in the event, which takes place in March, just five months removed from his heavy postseason workload during the Dodgers' run to a second-consecutive World Series title. At this point, no decision on…...