Los Angeles – Fresh off his World Series win with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani continues to make waves by announcing that he will return to play for Samurai Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). ABC7 reported the news after Ohtani posted on social media, expressing his pride in representing Japan once again.
In his first appearance at the WBC in 2023, Ohtani shined brightly — hitting and pitching, and becoming the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) when helping Japan win the championship.
However, in the new announcement, he did not clarify whether he would continue to pitch or only play as a bat — which made many people curious.
What increased attention was that Ohtani had just had a successful season with the Dodgers: returning to the pitch after a serious injury, and winning the fourth MVP title of his career.
His participation in the WBC has further fueled speculation that Japan will be a strong contender for the next victory.
However, experts are also raising important questions: Will Ohtani be physically fit enough to “hit and pitch” in the international tournament? Are the Los Angeles Dodgers worried about injuries when allowing him to return to play for the national team?
In the 2026 WBC, Japan will be in Group C, along with teams such as Australia, South Korea, Czechia and Taiwan.
Ohtani’s return is clearly not only a joy for Japanese fans, but could also reshape the landscape of international baseball.
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