Reacting to Shohei Ohtani’s announcement that he will play for Team Japan in 2026 🇯🇵

Some news came out yesterday that Shi Otani will in fact take part in the upcoming World Baseball Classic and will be a part of team Japan as they try to defend their title at next year’s World Baseball. I wonder if he pitches. They didn’t say what he’s going to do. I think he just dhes. Really? They have so much depth in the pitching rotation that I don’t think the Dodgers would chance him to pitch. You know, I considering all the injuries and everything else, just the sense I get is that whatever Showi Otani wants to do, Show Otani is going to do. Yeah. So, gets to do. I I I think that he like, hey, you Yeah. Yeah. I I I think that he really wants to pitch. I think this moment right here um first of all, I think this moment right here took this event, this tournament to a whole another level. No doubt. And I I cannot wait uh for next year’s I don’t think he pitches really. Nope. Yeah, I I would be surprised if he did not, but I I guess that those are questions that uh will definitely be addressed. I mean, he’s had two arm injuries. I’m sorry, but he’s got about $600 million left on that contract. That’s true. That’s fair. I know the WBC is a cool event. I love it. You love it. We all love it. But that ain’t paying the bills, honey. Yeah. You know what I mean? No. I I hear look there’s definitely he is a prized commodity within that Dodgers organization. So I can see him playing right field. Boy, that that is that will be interesting to see what that looks like. But um just circling back, I I love the momentum that the World Baseball Classic Awesome has had. Yeah, like I said, I I think that moment a couple of years ago, Otani versus Trout with the game on the line. I think we’re going to look back as that moment is kind of a touchstone of this of this event and this I agree. Yeah, there’s there’s been moments Adam Jones’s catch in San Diego, that’s another sign that stands out. You know, you look at the first few, but that moment that you’re talking about, Trout Noani and you look at at the time we were in, they were the best two players on the planet. Yeah. And they were teammates. Yeah, here in America. So, they’re facing each other, representing their countries, and that was an awesome at bat.

Your reigning #WorldBaseballClassic MVP plans on running it back!

大谷翔平

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39 comments

  1. America is so weird. Imagine any other country saying "we'll not let the best players of our country represent us and do the best they can in the actual world championship, where they can compete against teams from around the world, because they might not be as ready for the championship that's our country only" 😂. They talk about it like it doesn't even matter. But that's probably cause they call teams world champions when they've only won the US championship 😂

  9. Shohei makes more money from endorsement in Japan than he actually make from Dodgers.

    Just think about this: he is going to tell the Japanese people that he cares more about his Dodger career than representing his nation and trying his best to repeat the WBC champion. Imagine how much harm he will do to his brand.

    Ohtani, Yamamoto and all other Japanese super stars will participate in WBC or they suffer a huge blow to their endorsement value in Japan, not to mention the shame of dishonoring their country.

    This is the part that American sports commentators would not understand. Being selfish as an American sports star is okay or eve encouraged. Not so for Japanese players.

  13. Shohei covering right field is the most exciting thing in the WBC 2026 for me.
    And, I don't think Yamamoto will be in the games, although he could also be a great outfielder. No kidding.

  15. The WBC is bigger than the World Series to the Japanese and most of Ohtani's income comes from the Japanese market. It would be insane for him to not play in the WBC.

  17. Japan created Shohei and he can be proud of it. Shohei's workmanship even inspired other Dodgers and even fans to work harder and strive for excellence. Shohei even gave people wake up calls that you can be the best human you can be, and still be as humane as you can be. Don't need to be egotistical and full of yourself all the time.
    Superman won't be Superman unless he had the humane part.

    I don't know if America at this time can create a Superman who is not somewhat full of himself or not try to take credit for everything.

    Maybe the Japanese way of staying humble so you can strive to be better is the correct way, as opposed to how we just lie to our kids that they are the best all the time so they just grow up to be self pretentious without actual solid skills or intelligence to back it up.

    Anyway Shohei being on the Japanese team means they have a better chance to show us more of their good players and I am all for that. Totally ready to see the 2023 WBC climatic moments again.

  35. Lots of money left in that contract, but Dodgers already got their money's worth. Ohtani will do whatever he wants to do. That Ohtani vs. Trout at bat is, IMO, one of the most iconic sports moment ever.

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