#MLBVideos: 2023 MVP! ULTIMATE Shohei Ohtani highlight reel from the 2023 @worldbaseballclassic 🇯🇵 | 大谷翔平ハイライト

2023 MVP! ULTIMATE Shohei Ohtani highlight reel from the 2023 @worldbaseballclassic 🇯🇵 | 大谷翔平ハイライト

Number six, a jam-packed Tokyo Dome full and buzzing for Shi Otani. His numbers from last season with the Angels. Another MVP caliber campaign as he finished runner up to the New York Yankees star Aaron Judge. show Otani and his remarkable repertoire simply go out there and challenge these young hitters as you’re getting ready for a season and competing trying to win. But uh for show as he’s told me through the years he needs to have a consistent arm slot as he builds strength and stamina for the season. Yangpe the right fielder starting things off for China. fouled back one and one. Expect to see a lot of fast balls. And I think the viewers can hear at home that buzz quiets to a silence before every single pitch. In there for strike two. two two and two. For the last two seasons, Otani has made a tweak to his pitching repertoire, cut down on his foreseen fastball usage and almost doubled his slider usage while also dialing back a little bit on that dominant splitter. Strike three. Swinging a K to begin old evening. The starting lineup for Dean Trainer in team China. hone in on that three spot, the center fielder, Yusuke Masago, Chinese heritage, and he is batting two spots in front of the season veteran, the designated hitter, Ray Chang. Had a great chat with Ray. Pregame. He’s back for another World Baseball Classic. Strike one to begin the battle between Otani and Yang Jin. There is Chang on the right, Dean Trainer, the manager for team China on the left. Jang a player coach for team China in this event. 98 miles per hour for Show misses the strike zone. I can say I had never experienced silence between pitches in any any sight I’ve ever watched baseball in called. Not sure where that missed but it did. Two balls in a strike. Stu Sherwatter the Canadian of course in the part of the big league umpiring crew calling balls in strikes. Great wraparound slider by Show right there. Young Jin the left side Genda the short stop up with it. How about the defensive alignment for Samurai Japan behind Shi Otani Okamoto Maki Genda Wurakami from first to third. Yoshida Lars Nbar and Kinsuke Kondo from left to right in the outfield. Takuya Kai the battery with Shi Otani. Now, the player who received the largest and loudest ovation during the pregame ceremony and introduction, that’s Yusuke Masago. Plays for the Hitachi Baseball Club in the industrial league. Was born in Kyoto City in Japan. His father though is Chinese. His mother is half Chinese and half Japanese. He grounds out in a one, two, three first inning for Shoi Otani. Back in the Tokyo Dome, time for the second inning. Samurai Japan leading China one- nothing. And more work upcoming for Show Otani on the mound, which means more silence here in the Tokyo Dome. It’s, if we’re being honest, it’s kind of eerie. By the way, I feel like I have to ask permission to talk. Same. I want to whisper. All right. First pitch fouled back by Chenzhen, the third baseman. being respectful of what they do here and which is absolutely beautiful and but you got a sense for those who have never watched a game in Japan just the the difference between when Samai Japan is pitching versus when Samai Japan is hitting. So he lost that arm side. One and one. Quiet please. One-1 ground to the right side. Okamoto will do it himself. Now Stackcast going to show you more about Choi Otani’s pitch arsenal. And Jose Moto is going to tell you about it. It’s varied through the years. Let’s go back to 2022. The slider usage way up near 40%. The four seamer got the splitter which is also has gone down. This curveball the show me pitch along with that cutter and his two seamer told me last year he was using some of those sinkers two seamers to get some ground balls and some early outs. And by the way, you know is uh one of my Japanese teachers. Yeah, I know you guys have a great relationship going back a number of years now. Jose first word he taught me in spring training. Can you say it on television? I got to ask first. Good sir. Okay. Shoes. I know. Glad there’s other words he could have taught you that that you might have said there and it was nervous for a second. Not misal. Nah. Yeah. You’re you’re right. One pitch grounded foul by Ray Chang. Well, contact has been made by three out of the four batters. See the velocity up to 98 so far for show pride of Kansas City 39 years young in his fourth World Baseball Classic. He told us before the game he’s I thought 2017 was that I was done and they asked me to coach for this one and I was like I want to play and here he is as a player coach for team China. How cool. And then he told you and then I’m facing who tonight? Yeah, that’s why he came back. The opportunity to face Shi Otani in the Tokyo Dome. Are you kidding me? 100 mph to greet Chang. That’s a reaction. Triple digits. Saw Roki Sasaki, the young sensation, dial it up. Triple digits during the exhibitions. He’s next. He’s got next. Show’s got now. A one, two. Freezes Chang. Second strikeout for Shi. It’s a It’s a pitch that he actually learned by utilizing both sides of the play. But here it is. Front door breaking ball on the right pitch. It’s not really encouraged a whole lot as you know by pitching coaches. It’s not practice often. But look at the reaction. That front hip flies open. Froze. Tao. The first baseman now batting six for team China. waves at strike one. Keep in mind it is early March and Show did make one start for the Angels in preeason before flying out here to join his teammates in Samurai Japan. Now, conversely, China’s National Baseball League has been paused for a number of years and obviously most of this roster plays CPBL. Now many of these players on this particular roster for the World Baseball Classic Show for in a second strike they went to the United States in 2018 2019 to play in the Independent American Association with the Texas Airhogs. Try and get their reps in. Strike three. Swinging backto back punches for Shoi Otani to cap the second inning. Six up, six down for him. About a full mile bar higher than last season average with the Angels at 97.3. 22 pitches, 15 strikes. Yeah, I would say there’s some juice flowing. Yeah, you know, pitching this this scenario. I mean, come on. Yeah, of course. I mean, just being back home in this atmosphere has to be firing him up. Yong Kango ahead of Otani. Two balls, no strikes. You saw how many star players committed to the World Baseball Classic early, right? Including one Mike Trout. Well, guess what that did? It just opened up the floodgates to star players to say, “I want to do it, too.” Little chopper up the middle coming in. Genda, one down. Steve, you know very well, you’ve been around Major League Baseball a long time. And you know, it takes one guy to say, “I’m going to get it done. Follow me.” When before there were some reservations from certain star players on doing it or not. No doubt. And the minute uh Tony Rigggins, general manager for the team USA and contacted Mike Trout was like a yes. And before you know it, they had to put a stop on some guys that just couldn’t fit. Oh, absolutely. For for team USA, especially with with Tony Rian’s, Mark D. Rosa, the manager at the helm there, and Mike Trout as the team captain, they’re following 27. A little warm-up exhibition. Team USA did lose to the San Francisco Giants as they get ready for their World Baseball Classic opener, which will be started by Lars Nupar’s teammate and Adam Wayright. Final season. We think we think got love, man. for show also keep in mind there will be times and he’s told me this when the arm is catching up with the front leg where he will do the slide step nobody on there’s a time Stephen when he had a walk in his game when he came to the big leagues he went as simple as sacrificing a little velocity and went slide step. Found it. Two- two pitch. Poke to center. Nar racing in. Lars Nar for the sliding catch. I mean, he fits just the way he plays the game. Tremendous determination. The reaction from the fans absolutely superb. Those two have struck up quite a bond and a friendship in a hurry. That’ll make it tighter. Save me a base hit, my friend. That’s right. Thank you. at the bottom of team China’s order. Okay. So, Steve, you are a starting pitcher in the big leagues. You have your routines of weights, conditioning, bull pens, right? Video sessions. Oh, by the way, you’re also the team’s slugger. So there’s batting practice, there’s tweaking swings, there’s approach, there’s hitters meetings, there’s pitchers meetings. I mean, the load that shows trainers and physical therapists to get your body right. His load has been unmatched. No other player in the big leagues has had to do what he does on a regular basis to be ready to play. Nobody ever. And when you were around him with the angels, Jose, how much an of an impact do you feel that had on his teammates, witnessing what he does to get ready to do this every day? Most players were in awe saying, “Are you kidding me?” Position players, Mike Trout once said, “I I could not be doing that pitching and doing what he does at that level.” Ground ball to Maki at second. Nine up, nine down. Still one- nothing game. Welcome back to the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Watching pool B at the fame Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. Modeled after the Metrodome in Minnesota. First dome stadium in Japan. And it’s hosted many great baseball games, many great sporting events, including one back in February of 1990. Big fight, Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas. And here tonight we have team Japan and team China in pool play action and in talking to TK Brock pregame. Team China is well aware of that history. Sometimes upsets happen. One of the biggest in sporting history Douglas beating Tyson happened here. If we’re going to do something similar against Japan tonight in Show Otani, we got to come out swinging. We got to be aggressive and take chances. little numbered just in front of home plate. There’s the first out of the fourth inning. In the meantime, Cho back on the mound. Came into this inning with 34 pitches in the first three innings. And truly, there’s been more contact by China. Not hard contact, but they put the ball in play more times than actually anticipated seeing it here tonight. Dean Trader and keeping things positive for team China. Yong Jin short stop grounded out first time up. That was the first pitch back. That was 99 well located right under the knuckles and one of the very few four seamers we’ve seen from Sho Otani tonight. There is action in the Japanese bullpen. The 01 pitch 100 miles per hour by you and Yang Jin in a hole. Young one of those players I mentioned earlier a lot of the roster plays in CBL for the Shanghai Eagles. He did not. Says Delphian Cologne at third base. Slick fielder here up there for team China. Primarily a short stop. Play all over the infield. Corner outfield as well. Just miss. going the other way. Finds the fairway in left field. Cut off by Oshida. And that’ll spoil the perfect party for show Otani. There’s a moment Yang Jin will never ever ever forget. Made contact first time out with a ground out. That is solid. That is not a given. Keep that baseball. Yeah, that was beautiful piece of hitting. I mean, by the way, you’re not exaggerating. We say that’s great. He will never forget that moment. No. Really cool for Yang Jin in team China. One out base runner. So the tying run on base just one out in the top of the fourth inning. If you look at the scoreboard in the scorecard, I should say more. But eight walks through three innings. You’d expect this game to be five, six nothing, but it has not been the case. H just two hits Mago has to get out of the way of that. He a fun guy to be around. We spent spend a couple minutes with him pregame. Boy, it seems like he sets that tone in the clubhouse, doesn’t he? Oh, yeah. You see the the rapport also that Dean Trainer has with these guys and the confidence come to the offense and ask me anything including where am I hitting today. Work back in there for a strike. So mentioned earlier his mother half Chinese half Japanese was born in China and Yusuke said he was surprised to get an offer to play for team China. He doesn’t speak any Chinese but said quote I felt like taking on a big challenge. Took a big swing there and miss two balls, two strikes. So think about separation today. 100 miles an hour to 83 miles an hour and working on a few things like I know Show is very compartmentalized when it comes down to staying on the plan. Stephen, where’s the splitter? Not part of the plan tonight. He’s getting a feel for the ball coming out of his hands with his cutter and his slider. Tipped into the glove. Another strike out. It’s number four for Shaw Hi Otani. So mentioned this topic earlier. Big part of the World Baseball Classic is taking care of the pitchers restrictions. 50 plus pitches thrown is four days mandatory. 30 plus pitches thrown one day. And obviously if you pitch on two consecutive days, that means that you’re kept under 30. The first time obviously you must have a one day rest in between after two consecutive appearances. Tell you what, Stephen, I’ve seen it work. Magically for some managers as the turner progresses and you have a hot reliever throw strikes is dominant strategically they will keep him just under 30 pitches to say I need you tomorrow for show at this point I mean and this was the thought going into the tournament to begin with but then he’d be set for the quarterfinals that’s fouled straight back. Yes. And we know that also as we know there’s a lot of protection for these pitchers for that reason as big league pitchers get ready. Well, this is all part of it. In spring training, you will be gradually moving into 30 to 45 to 60 to 75 eventually to 90 95 pitches. So, just got to make sure you respect that and know that you’re also taking care of the organizations in those arms. 02 pitch to Chen Chen. Called strike three. Fifth of the night for Shi Otani. And it brings an end to the fourth inning. Four shutout innings on the mound tonight. Shot to left center field. Show Otani off the wall. Nukear scores. Kondo rounds third and heads home. Welcome home Show Otani on an everyday basis. The threat that he is with the bat spoiling and just hammering good pitchers. Pitches like that one on the bound. He said, “I just got that pitch exactly where I wanted.” Look at the catcher’s reaction and look how far that ball went to the opposite field. his ability to backspin. Yeah. And pepper grind. Now, obviously, five seasons for the fighters in NPB. Pacific League most valuable player in 2016. Otani ropes a single in right. He reaches for the fourth time tonight. Absolutely. Adding more to all the stories being told tonight and the car ride home and the train ride home and the bus ride home. We got to see Shi perform at the Tokyo Dome. His arm angled where he had it back in high school. That got him back on track. Show gets to him ripping a ball down the line and right gets all the way to the corner and that’s a stand up double for old Taniz. You know, I talk about him shortening up. That really does. I’ve seen it time and time again. Round a little bit earlier as Show has shown me through the years, but shortened things up. That is some serious exit velocity off that mat. 29year-old right-hander stares in at the Angels, former MVP. First pitch roped into right field. Otani comes through. Japan’s lead is four. Oh, Hokkaido. So many memories and showing, you know, such a great student of the game. You see him every time there’s a pitching change. He goes out there and gets his information, gets all whatever he needs in terms of patterns, pitches, tendencies, and wastes no time here again. Otani hammer to right field down in front of the wall and one hops off of it. Condo will score. Otani with an RBI double. on the nose with Top Spin. Break the ball up in the zone. When it left the bat, it looks like it was going to be able to carry over the wall, but you can see the Topsman taking over. Just a beauty of an approach. The foul ball on the left side. Told me he was right back. Click down where he needed to be with his timing. The 01 pitch taken high and deep to right field. Otani has blown the roof off the Tokyo Dome. almost hit himself in the face. Japan and Italy in the Tokyo Dome. The winner heads to Miami in the semifinals at the World Baseball Classic. Show Otani’s first pitch is a strike in the playing ball. Show Otani’s second start here in the World Baseball Classic. First one against China. He was terrific. Threw a lot of strikes. Filled the zone against a very inexperienced team, but only threw two splitters, he told me. And today starts with a slider. He was a cutter. power fastball and his average fast ball last season the big leagues 97.3 that was up last time out here against China above 98 with the fast ball for Otani against China yanks that one so the count even one and one on the leadoff batter the left fielder Saul Freighic very simple on this countering for show Otani is power pitcher that fills the zone with pretty much every single pitch and increase in pitch variety perhaps more splitters tonight could be an order. Freighic, the number two prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system, 22 years old, swings through strike two. He is seven for 18 thus far for team Italy. Three doubles, has not struck out yet. There’s a slider and then there’s a harder slider and a cutter. his first strike out of the tournament. Otani’s first strike out of the night. Mike Piazu’s lineup let off by Freighic. The scorching hot Nikki Lopez a few spots in front of his Kansas City Royals teammate and first baseman Vinnie Pascantino. This lineup has not produced a home run yet in the tournament, but they have produced enough to get to the quarterfinals. At the bottom of the order, Show Otani’s Angels teammate and very good friend David Fletcher. And now for those who have not yet watched a game at the Tokyo Dome, they’ll get to experience the silence that comes when Japan is out in the field. Ground ball. Murakami makes a nice pick there at third base. Tutu defensively for Shi Otani. Solid around the outfield with some speed and coverage from Yoshida. Large Snooper has been brilliant in center field with his coverage and range. Kondo in right. Gabakabi third, Genda short, Maki at second, Okamoto at first, and Kai with a big arm behind home play. Here’s Dominic Fletcher, the David’s brother, 25-year-old in the Arizona Diamondback system. launches ball one 100 miles per hour draws the oo and azer You say it is special, weird, almost eerie, isn’t it? It doesn’t. And that doesn’t change no matter how many times we’ve experienced it now. And after the first 100 miles per hour fast, it gets quieter. And though he’s got the grunt going tonight, he’s fallen behind Fletcher. He got a nice ovation during the pregame introductions. I think a lot of fans thought it was David Fletcher. count full or they just appreciate the general aesthetic of Dominic Fletcher. He doesn’t appreciate this. Starts outside. Darts in right into the corner. Not to the middle of the plate. 3-2 saw off and trouble gets down in center field. And so a two out knock for Dominic Fletcher. They don’t ask how hard. And this is what they do. Play Pepper. Put the ball in play and don’t give away at bats. Now the slider starts in a different lane, different slot closer to the eyes of Fletcher. He’s able to just get enough wood on it. That might be it for the Fletchers, though. His good buddy is batting ninth. He might just take care of that and pay back with him. His buddy Tonnie only gave up one hit in four total innings in the opener against China. Italy’s got a knock here in the first. Here’s Brett Sullivan, the catcher. He fouls one back. Just turned 29 at the end of February. Currently in the San Diego Padres’s organization. And I had a conversation with Brett on the field pregame. He said, “Can’t help but notice that nobody is giving us a chance, not just to win this game. Nobody thinks we’re going to be able to hit him, but why not ground ball second base to open the two out base hit doesn’t hurt. He’s still up third.” 2022. What do you feature? Show usage of 40% for that slider, four seamer, splitter, curveball, cutter, and sinker. We saw a sinker in fact uh out of his first 14 pitches here in the first inning, averaging 98.9 on the fast ball in the first inning. Scoreless game, Japan and Italy in the quarterfinals at the World Baseball Classic. And for this 2023 tournament, a reminder, it is single elimination time. Show Otani has 5, six, and seven. The Italian order beginning with the Italian nightmare, Kenny Pascantino. A couple of his teammates told me just waiting for him to erupt. No home runs yet in the tournament, but he had 10 in just 72 games last year with the Kansas City Royals. And swings through strike two. Here’s why. Going back to the previous inning on the lefties as he did with Dominic Fletcher. One slider on the outer half and then reading the big hole down and in. We might have seen the first splitter in a long time from Showani. 90 miles an hour. Let’s see the grip. the follow through and there it was that VO was there in the first inning. I think he’s amped up for this moment. So 100 saw some 99s. Average 989 with the fast ball 92 fouled back by Pascantino. That’s a pretty good swing I think Vinnie. No, Mister was sitting on something slower after missing that splitter. He will choke up and then think more as Lars Nukebar did about the other side of the field here. Yeah, it wasn’t just the pop he displayed last year with KC 295. He strikes out swinging here against Otani in 102. You said he was amped up, Stephen. Well, back to you up right here. One zero two on that fast ball after a couple splitters at 90. First pitch grounded by Master Bone. Good play by Okamoto. Otani covering first. two away. It’s one of those plays as the first baseman. You know where the guy on the right is a second base, but if he can go out there and get it, take care of it. Now you become athletic. Turn that shoulder, show the ball, and be steady with that feed because the guy on the other side is a tremendous athlete. A very tough play was made to look very easy. We go from Master Bone who’s in the Cubs system to Veto Fa. Take strike one. Philadelphia Phillies organization last year across a couple levels. 89 games a 760 OPS between double and triple A. This is outside. Tanya had 23 pitches. The pitch limit in this round is 80. 65. We saw him first against China. Now he’s got 80 pitches to work with. One and two. Fills his own. Split grip, but the glove always in the same spot. Watch the glove is not going to move. He delivers the one two and has his third punch out in two frames. came down to the final contest for the Italians taking on one of the pool favorites, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And they needed a bunch of runs to score. They got the runs, got the dub, won the tiebreaker, and earned a spot here in Tokyo against Japan. those seven runs against the Netherlands to keep adding and avoid some runs was huge to get here. And Delio bouncer to Gendo. Let’s watch the throw. Right on the money. One down. Well, this brings up a very interesting matchup of very good friends. Who’s going to smile first? What do you think, Jose? You know these guys well. Stonefaced. Both of them. They don’t want to look at each other. Angel teammates, World Baseball Classic competitors. Otani delivers a strike at 99 to his great friend David Fletcher. 101. Uhoh. Fletch. Hey, that 102, by the way, that he hit in the second inning, Otani, that is the fastest pitch that Stackcast has recorded for Shi. Now, he does have a record he shares with Roki Sasaki for the fastest thrown pitch by a Japanese born player in MPB at 1025 as Fletcher puts it on the ground at third. Otani wins the first battle. You see Otani pumping his fist right after that out and the execution of that pitch. He is a man that has such a repertoire and does some great things. There’s grandness in him, but believe me, he will celebrate the smallest of victories like just executing a pitch, having a pitch land in the right spot. And the splitter is alive here tonight. And it’s lively. You return to the top of the order. Al Frill grounds the first pitch from Otani. And that is a one, two, three, third. Otani bunts it to the left side, fielded by Lorso. The throw is wide and gets away. Kondo at third. The Aussy’s manager Dave Nelson said, “I think the turning point of the game was when Otani hit one about 500 ft.” On the other end of the spectrum, you got a bunt single for a base hit. Two, three, and four do up for Italy in the top of the fourth. And again, you always see the ovation from the crowd and the respect paid right back by the player who starred the previous half inning. For Okamoto, it’s not just fans cheering their home country. It’s the fans cheering their home team here again. He plays for the Yomodi Giants who call the Tokyo Dome. So, he’s hit a bunch of home runs in front of him. It doesn’t get old to him. One thing is to do it for your team like the Giants, but when you have Japan across your chest, the meaning is even grander. Nikki Lopez continues to rake in the World Baseball Classic. Oh, Nikki’s trying to get back to where he was back in 2021 with Kansas City. He really struggled last year and this is what he got away from. He did not know where that ball was. He thought the ball was just a fly ball to left field. His eyes, watch him. He’s looking for the baseball here. Where is it? Hey, now I’ll take the line drive off show. His teammates say Nikki’s been the guy. He’s picked us up throughout this tournament. grind it trying to author a response after Japan scored four in the bottom of the third. had a good time to clarify. And couple of things that uh should be aware of. The pitch limits go up. So, Shi can go as many as 80 pitches, but I expect him to go maybe an increase of 20 over last time. He went 49. So, I think maybe around 70 tonight. Strike one to Dominic Fletcher. 99 mph. He’s been averaging 99.5 heading into this inning. For comparison sake, last year with the Angels, that fastball average was 97.3. Fletcher singled in the first away strike two. As I talk Stephen about pitch limits and increases, remember he is building for a long season ahead of him. So I do not expect him to go from 50 to 80 or you know that type of increase even though he seems like he’s just playing catch out there. He strikes out Dominic Fletcher. Number four for Show Otani. Pitch him differently this time. Saw a couple of sliders last time up. Finally got a hold of one inner half. And let’s go split it with you. Let him know. Show. I don’t know that uh David Fletcher his good friend’s going to be happy in show that reaction against brother Fletcher as you can expect a lot of Angels jerseys and shirts to Tokyo going that’s triple digits. Can we say he’s a little amped up today? You can see it and you can hear it. That’s slicing toward the excite seats. The fan cannot make the play for Show in a Show jersey. Help him out. saw Yoshida’s face there. Yosha kind of held back a little bit when he saw the young fan extend. Now two strikes on Italy’s catcher last year at a 783 OPS for Triple A El Paso 285. Sullivan, former 17th round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays, product of Pacific University, played for Ed Sprag, World Series ring. He was clutch. Ed Sprag. Brett’s brother Tyler also Major League Baseball draft pick. Otani’s one two and Sullivan fouled it back. Stared at Shi. He’s confident, man. I’m not exaggerating if I say that we have not seen fast balls below 98. I love it. I love it. Thanks for challenging me. I love it. Cool. Fast ball. Nope. Some filth off the table for strike three. Backto back for Otani. That’s 93 off the table with another split. I talked to Shi after that first start against China and he said maybe two splits and he told me expect a little bit more next time out. I need that pitch. I need to work on that pitch for my regular season too. Now Japan’s unicorn will again face the Italian nightmare Pascantino aka Pasquatch aka the Italian breakfast which that’s a trio of elite nicknames and he has got a lot of fans in the Kansas City Royals organization excited about the future there. 25year-old lefty between him Bobby Whit Jr. playing for team USA. MJ Melendez. Let’s not forget about a kid named Robbie Glendining that should get a lot of attention and replay so well for Australia. Tip of the cap to the Aussies made it to the quarterfinals for the first time in their history at the World Baseball Classic. Lost a heartbreaker to Cuba last night. So, Cuba, the first team to earn a spot in the semifinals. Cuba in Miami. Get ready. 3 0. There’s strike one. Yanked it. Ball four. First and second, two out now for Italy. And next up, Miami, Florida will be turned all the way up to the semifinals in the finals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Cubo will face the winner of the United States and Venezuela. Talk about a clash there. And then next up either Italy and Japan against Puerto Rico or Mexico. Puerto Rico in Yatti Molina in the Dominican Republic out. That was a heartbreaking emotional win for Puerto Rico because in the celebration, star closer Edwin Diaz suffered a right knee injury. Have some imaging done, but hoping for the best for one of the best in the game. Someone who is great not just for Puerto Rico, not just for the New York Mets, but for all of baseball. So again, healthy vibes. Sugar’s way. He’s so important to that team. The Mets, let alone Puerto Rico. Otani looks at Lopez. One and one now to Master Bony. Showing is usually very fundamentally sound in his drive and staying tall and driving with his legs, but there’s a little extra push in his direction towards home play today. is really allowing that arm slot to catch up early and fire away. He’s at 50 pitches. Here’s number 51. It’s outside. Two balls, one strike. One of the things he will use to get back in a consistent phase and to get some direction and not yank the baseball as Steven described earlier on the walk is quick pitch or slide step. It’s the hardest he’s had to work Otani here in the fourth. That was his 21st pitch of the top of the fourth inning. Had 14 in the first, 11 in the second, six in the third. That last inning, a fairly easy one. Six pitches, five strikes. He’s falling behind Mastro. 3-1 fly ball to left field. Yoshida back at the track at the wall and he makes the catch. Masher Boni gave that one a ride and gave the fans here in Tokyo a little bit of a scare. Another look at that play from Yosha. Solid tracking all the way into the glove. Fundamentally sound as they know how to play. Looking back at the last time Italy made it to the second round at the World Baseball Classic in 2013. Mike Piaza has led him to the quarterfinals here in 2023. They trail four nothing in the top of the fifth for Piaza who’s got Sicilian roots on his father’s side. now originally greg agreed to become the manager for Italy back in 2019 as Otani gets in front of Friesia 0 and2 obviously the tournament delayed because of the pandemic but he stayed committed and reaffirmed that call last March he was on the staff in 2009 as the hitting coach 2013 played in 2006 six and this means the world to Mike Piaza’s one two in the air drifting foul excite seats have a souvenir you mention means the world to Mike Piaza who is a guy that played the game knowing that there’s always a chip on his shoulder Remember, he was drafted as a favor to Tommy Lord, his godfather, Hall of Famer. He no question to his numbers, his power, the way he played the game, and now the way he’s teaching and passing on to his team and also talking to us about that next generation of players that he wants to get from Italy to play in college. That’s a liner. Maki keeps it in front of him and throws out Fries. One down to the fifth. When number one’s on the mound and this is no accident. Their defense has another kick in their step. And here it is. Maki to his right. This ball’s coming back to him and gets that arm exactly where it needs to be to take care of that serious hop. Otani tipped his cap to Maki, gave it right back. Otani loses the first pitch to Deludio. If you’re going to get hit, get hit by 83 and not 102. One that just got away from the showhead. SLA backed up on him. And for a second time, we’ll have Halo vers Halo. Otani and David Fletcher. I do know that Otani made some good recommendations for the Fletcher brothers to go get some good sushi here in Tokyo. Fletcher raved about it and Fletcher with a little Q ball to the right side going first to third. Delusio in Italians are starting to feel it these last couple of innings against Otani. That’s Fletch being Fletch. He’s got tremendous ability on bat to the ball. Find some holes. Very true to his swing. Forget about exit velocity with him. But he is going to find some holes. That’s what he does. Yeah. And who knows better than Show. If you go to David Fletcher’s baseball savant page, do not go looking for exit bail. No. But but ask an Angel fan, Jose, and I know you know a ton of them. They’ll say David Fletcher is the greatest baseball player to ever live. For sure. Grinder gets dirty and reminds everybody of World Series champion and his favorite player growing up. David Xin. Yeah, big opportunity in front of Sal Frillley, the number two prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, the 15th overall pick in 2021. Popped up. Who’s got it? Nuke in. Delusio will tag and N bars throw scores him back to third responsibility number one. You take charge. You have the best angle. Even though look where Loopar is compared to Condo, he’s going to have the best angle, the best arm. Gets it behind the baseball. throws a strike to the cuto off man who almost gets a runner to lose you at third base. That’s just the way they line up and why there’s always looking for the extra out. Show doing his job doing what? Backing up home plate. Almost a lost art nowadays to escape the fifth unscathed. have to battle it out with the hottest hitter for team Italy and Nikki Lopez. Nine for 18 in the World Baseball Classic. A double and a triple. Seven driven in was after the first pitch. It’s fouled. Anybody with the Royals watching Nikki Lopez play throughout this tournament and especially tonight ought to be very excited about what might be coming. A very motivated player who did not want to see that 220ish next to his name after hitting 300 the year before. Just turned 28 a few days ago. Nikki from Neapville, Illinois. Oh, one. That’s foul. Two strikes on him. So Otani at 65 pitches. That was the limit in the first round. It’s gone up 15 pitches. here for the quarterfinals. As we showed you a moment ago, there is action Kuryama. This will most likely be his last stretch here as he gets him to around 70. Just one base runner the first three innings against Otani. in the fourth and the fifth. Italy has had multiple base runners and multiple hardh hit baseballs. It’s almost like where’s the finish line? I need to get there now. Back to the breathing, reathering and task at hand. Next pitch. Got the sign for the splitter. Said no. Wanted the fast ball. But fast ball away. Now wants a new sequence. Delusio on third. Fletcher standing off first. Conservative lead for Fletcher. Two balls, two strikes. There’s another slider that got away from Choi on the arm side. That one hit hard right field hooking toward the corner. Oh, just and just Yeah, just like that. That reaction says it. He’s feeling it. Sigh of relief here with over 41,000 in the Tokyo Dome. Here’s why. Another great swing by Niki Lopez on the Hayski pitch. 340 ft about 5 10 ft too far to the right. I’m guessing the idea now is to slow down his bat. Italy again that close to a three-run blast that hits Lopez on the leg to load the bases. A very unusual curveball by Show Otani at 82 miles an hour. And Jose, we’ve been talking about how it’s going the other way from Otani and toward Italy’s lineup. How long of a leash? Exactly what he did not want to do. The leash is getting shorter. as Shi has struggled a little bit in in in consecutive innings now. He made 22 pitches in the fourth. He’s up to 69 now. He was up to 53 coming into this inning. And the one thing that you know does not want to do is take him out of this game in the middle of an inning. They’re loaded for Dominic Fletcher. who singled in the first, struck out in the fourth. So, he’ll have a little rubber match with Otani. This guy had a 30-game hitting streak last year. Fletcher prepares for Otani’s offering. 0 and one. You can response the location. Back door slider first pitch for a strike just as Kai called it. Dominic Fletcher doesn’t hit it hard but gets it down in right field. Delusio scores. David Fletcher will follow. Italy has cut the deficit in half. Fletcher Brothers a factor here against good friend Shoi Otani. Second hit for Dominic. A one out single. The middle board for David Fletcher him adding ninth got challenged upstairs and gets just enough of that barrel out and the fighting Italians have made it a hard night here for show Otani. The first runs allowed by Otani in this tournament at eight and two scoreless before Dominic Fletcher came through with a base hit with two out in the fifth. That forces Hideki Kuryama to the bullpin. Oortani dips his hat to Pat Oberg and heads to the dugout as Japan makes a pitching change. 02. He lines that one into left field and that’s going to be a hit for Otani from one star to another. Rosarena picks it up and Otani trying to help get his team going. Rarely see motion for Shi. That’s emotion right there. And if Japan’s going to get go something going, it’s got to start with Shi. You see him get that fast ball right there. just gets enough of it. Staying short with it, driving it the other way. Randy can’t do much more. GGO’s first pitch. Otani rips a base hit into right center field into the gap. Cut off by Thomas in center field. Otani stops at second with a lead off double. That was a preset determined swing. Taking what Goss was going to give him. He sat on a pitch in the change up and he got it and boy he delivered taking his helmet off and let’s see the wheels big boy. It was a great play by Thomas who just got hit on the foot by a pitch to get there and cut it off. Otherwise Otani’s at third easy. How good is this guy? Oh man, he’s unbelievable. The approach, the execution and the attitude. Well, the dream as the two greatest players in the world led their teams onto the field for this World Baseball Classic Championship game was could we get the two big league teammates, not just head-to-head in terms of their teams, but head-to-head Otani on the mound, Trout at the plate with a title on the line. Could we ask for that? And guess what? We’re going to get it in a one-run game. Show Otani who has pitched brilliantly in this World Baseball Classic. He’s been absolutely fantastic. Eight and two/3, five hits, but overall it’s been incredible. So Nbar takes over in left field for Yoshida. Moves over to left and Makihara is now in center field. Japan is three outs away from winning this World Baseball Classic. Trout will bat third. And it’s not like it’s only Mike Trout here in the inning against Otani. You got Jeff Mcneel and Mookie Bets before Trout comes up. And you just can’t ask for anything more than this. It has been an amazing tournament of one great game after another with the greatest players in the world going head-to-head. Here we go. Now Jeff McNeel, who walked in his first plate appearance tonight, in some ways kind of the perfect guy to have leading off in a one-run game. Absolutely. I would want Magneto here taking one pitch. Motani show you a strike. Otani doing something he hasn’t done in a long time. His first pitch is ripped. Foul. There was no taking. And pretty good swing. Pretty good swing right there on a good slider. 01 fast ball at 101 miles an hour, but it missed. It’s just so unbelievable to watch a guy with this magnitude. All the stuff he can do and hit a ball 500 ft. He can throw 100 miles an hour. Nobody like him. McNeel takes a little bit high. Ball two. You see that for seamer just riding. Boy, is the perfect guy up to to the plate right now. They They need a They need a runner. He’s their guy. Find himself another fast ball counter, we think. Jumps up on the bat. 2-1. Back door misses. Three and one. What an iPad. Otani McNeel fouls it to the back stop. He got around that fast ball. kind of cut right at the last second. 98 mph just pure. I would think if you’re McNeer, you you got to stay hard with him. You don’t have a chance right here to stay soft. It’s hard and adjust. Count now three and two. Here’s the pitch. McNeel pulls it. Foul. Well, he did adjust. Gutsy for Otani right there to go with a slider. Little back door slider. McNeel, to his credit, he was sitting hard. He adjusted well right there. Elite. We’ve seen some elite hitters today. Wow. And yet the pitching has been brilliant, too. Three to two here in the ninth inning or has been another 3-2 pitch from Otani. McNeel takes four just a little bit low. Lance has been tight all night and I think that was the right pitch and the right call. Wow. Missed down. So now McNeel draws the walk and you bring in the extremely fast Bobby Wit to pinch run at first base. What an absolute at bat and Mark D. Roza talked about it tonight. Bobby Wit can steal a bag whenever he wants. They need a bag here. Bobby Wit’s the guy. But the hitters up. Yeah, you just wonder are they willing to risk that? We’ll see. Lookie Betts and then Trout. One-run game, ninth inning. That’s takes a strike right on the outside corner. You got the right guys. You do. Let’s go to work. Here’s the 01. Hookie on the ground is second. We’ll see if they can turn two. That’s one. That’s two. It’s a double play and Japan is one out away. He got a good pitch to hit right there. But we said it since the beginning of the start of this game. Japan will do everything right to win a ball game. And they’re one out away with their leader, their captain. Manuano right here. USA’s captain versus Japan’s captain. First time they’ve ever faced each other. They’ve been teammates for 5 years. The best against the best. Otani to Trout. Ball one. We’ve waited a long time to say that. Speechless. Not much to say but enjoy. Let’s do it. Otani’s 10 at 100 miles an hour. Is this fun or what? Japan hoping to celebrate. USA looking for heroics. Otan’s 1-1. Trout takes off the outside. That is unbelievable. It’s It’s 100 miles an hour cutting now. That pitch just cut. That’s a ball. Great take. This take though, he’s he’s giving him the heater. Two and one. Here’s the pitch. Trout swings and misses. Pure challenge. I wouldn’t want it any other way. My best stuff against your best swing. All right, here we go. USA down to its final strike in the ninth inning. Otani 2-2 to Mike Trout. Here’s the pitch and the dirt at 102. Baseball wins tonight. A match up we’ve all been wanting to see. Three and two from Otani. He throws. Trout straight out swinging. Otani and Japan celebrate a World Baseball Classic Championship. And on this night, the great show Otani in Japan just a little bit better than Mike Trout and USA. What an ending to an all-time tournament. What a game. We got to see what we came to see and show Otani got it done. Incredible. You see the emotions right there. 3-2 slider gets his teammate. Mission accomplished. for Japan. And no shock, another MVP trophy for Show Otani, the most valuable player of this World Baseball Classic. And who knows, maybe this is the week that the world looks at that man as the greatest player in the world. Well, he didn’t literally carry his team to a championship. At times, it felt like it. and greatness of show Otani on the big stage.

Your reigning #WorldBaseballClassic MVP plans on running it back!

Shohei Ohtani says he will play for Team Japan in 2026 🇯🇵

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