Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Japan in March’s World Baseball Classic, according to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
However, when speaking to reporters at Saturday’s DodgerFest shortly before Roberts, Ohtani didn’t rule out the possibility. He said the decision on whether or not to pitch would depend on “how my body feels.” But he intended to be ready to pitch for the Dodgers when the 2026 season begins.
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Roughly an hour later, Roberts announced Ohtani would not pitch in the WBC, saying that it was the two-way star’s decision.
Something apparently changed with the message of Ohtani’s intentions in the span of an hour. Yet it may have literally been a matter of translation. It was Ohtani’s translator, Will Ireton, who conveyed to reporters that the superstar wasn’t sure about pitching in the WBC, as pointed out by the California Post’s Michael Duarte.
Ohtani’s pitching workload will certainly be a matter of concern for the Dodgers, especially early in the season when starters are building up their stamina and stretching out their capacity to throw multiple innings. Several Dodgers starters will be monitored closely due to their injury history and postseason workload.
Last season, Ohtani didn’t make his pitching debut for the Dodgers until June 16. But he was still working his way back to being capable of facing major-league hitters after not pitching during the 2024 MLB season while recovering from internal brace surgery on his right elbow.
Even then, Ohtani threw one inning in each of his first two appearances last season. He slowly increased his workload to two innings, then three and four. Ohtani didn’t reach five innings in a start until his 11th start. During the postseason, he made three six-inning starts.
Altogether, Ohtani finished the 2025 campaign with 14 regular-season starts, compiling a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 41 innings. In four postseason appearances, he pitched 20 1/3 innings with 28 strikeouts, allowing 10 runs and 16 hits.
Ohtani not pitching in the WBC has to be considered a disappointment since he provided one of the tournament’s most memorable moments in 2023. Facing Team USA’s Mike Trout, Ohtani struck out his then-Los Angeles Angels teammate to clinch the championship for Team Japan.
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