As Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has began training with Team Japan for the WBC, he had an entire stadium watch in awe at just his batting practice

For the baseball fans eager to see Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani on the baseball field won’t have to wait much longer.

After having left Dodgers camp for Japan, Ohtani has officially started practicing with Team Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Leading up to the tournament, his practices will likely include pitching live batting practice and taking at-bats in a simulated setting each day, according to Sports Illustrated.

Ohtani didn’t pitch in his one Spring Training game he played in and won’t pitch in the WBC, but he will still train while away from the Dodgers so he can be used as a regular starter during the regular season.

“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure the quality and the volume are in a good place,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “And with the limited opportunities I do have being in a live situation, I just have to do the best I can in those situations.”

#大谷翔平 投手キャッチボールinバンテリンドーム⚾️
元 #DeNA #高城俊人 ブルペン捕手が受けました🔥🔥@samuraijapan_pr @WBCBaseball @Dodgers #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/zIiT4gBL42

— 横山尚杜(Naoto Yokoyama) サンスポMLB担当 (@Naoto_SANSPO) February 26, 2026

Today, Samurai Japan played the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball for an exhibition game. Before it even started, the stands were already packed as fans piled in to watch Ohtani warm up.

Ohtani didn’t disappoint, as during his batting practice, he routinely launched multiple balls into the stands. Both fans and players alike watched in awe as some members of the Dragons took out their phones to record what Ohtani was doing.

Shohei Ohtani put on a show in Japan for fans and fellow players pic.twitter.com/Nkfw5V8WRz

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 27, 2026

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Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will join Ohtani in the coming days, as Roberts said Yamamoto’s start today was his final appearance of Spring Training before leaving for the WBC.

Team Japan officially begins the tournament on March 6 against Team Chinese Taipei.