SHOHEI OHTANI WON’T PITCH FOR TEAM JAPAN IN WBC, FOCUSES ON FULL-TIME TWO-WAY ROLE WITH DODGERS

Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching for Team Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), as confirmed by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during the team’s DodgerFest event on Saturday. While Roberts expressed understanding of the decision, he emphasized that the choice was made by Ohtani himself, and the Dodgers would have supported him had he chosen to pitch for Japan. Instead, Ohtani will serve as the designated hitter, aiming to help Team Japan defend their WBC title from 2023, a tournament in which Ohtani famously struck out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure the championship.

OHTANI’S HEALTH AND FULL-TIME TWO-WAY ROLE FOR 2026

Shohei Ohtani is returning to the 2026 season with full health, following his long road back from elbow surgery in September 2023, which caused him to miss part of the 2025 season as a pitcher. The Dodgers took a careful approach with Ohtani’s pitching workload in 2025, limiting him to under 50 innings in the regular season and gradually increasing his innings until he was fully stretched out as a starter for the postseason.

Now, as Ohtani enters the 2026 season in good health, he will take on a full-time two-way role for the first time in three years. Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will pitch more than the 47 innings he worked in 2025, and while there will be built-in rest between starts, Ohtani will be treated like a normal starting pitcher rather than being limited to short outings. This signals that the Dodgers plan to use Ohtani both as a hitter and a pitcher without the restrictions that were in place last season due to his recovery.

OHTANI’S IMPACT AND PAST ACHIEVEMENTS

In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Ohtani finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award race and accumulated an MLB-leading 19.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) while performing both as a pitcher and a hitter. His historic performances on the mound and at the plate have made him one of the most unique and valuable players in recent baseball history.

Additionally, Ohtani’s recent success with the Dodgers includes winning back-to-back National League MVP Awards and World Series championships in his first two seasons with the team. With a healthy offseason and a return to his full two-way duties, Ohtani is poised to remain one of the most impactful players in the game.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE DODGERS

For the Dodgers, Ohtani’s decision not to pitch in the WBC means they can keep him focused on getting ready for a full-time role as both a hitter and pitcher in 2026. This is great news for the Dodgers, who will lean on Ohtani to continue being a dual threat in their lineup and rotation. With Ohtani back to full health and ready to contribute in both facets of the game, the Dodgers are setting their sights on another World Series title in the coming season.

Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating what Ohtani can accomplish in 2026 as a full-time two-way player—a role that has made him one of the most exciting athletes in modern sports. For Ohtani, his decision to focus on his duties with the Dodgers rather than the WBC a