Shohei Ohtani delivered a spectacular second-inning grand slam that sparked Japan’s overwhelming 13-0 victory against Chinese Taipei in World Baseball Classic action at Tokyo Dome. The defending champions dominated the game so thoroughly that it ended early in the seventh inning due to the mercy rule.

Shohei Ohtani wasted no time delivering for the home fans in Tokyo, crushing a grand slam in the second inning that ignited Japan’s dominant 13-0 victory over Chinese Taipei at the World Baseball Classic on Friday.

The capacity crowd at Tokyo Dome went wild when Ohtani connected on a curveball from pitcher Hao-Chun Cheng, driving it beyond the right field fence. Japan added six more runs in that same inning and continued their offensive onslaught until the contest was stopped after seven innings under the tournament’s mercy rule.

“I thought it might land as an out, so above all, I really wanted to get the first run on the board,” Ohtani said in a post-game interview. “I know there will be some tough battles ahead, but if the fans and the team can unite and everyone can help build the excitement together, it will really encourage us.”

The World Baseball Classic has become a premier international competition since its debut in 2006, now in its sixth edition. For Japan, the tournament represents a source of immense national pride, with the country assembling its top talent and holding the record with three championship titles.

Ohtani’s legendary status in Japan continues to soar. The 31-year-old superstar recently returned from another successful MLB campaign where he captured his second consecutive World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers and earned his third Most Valuable Player honor.

Even when he’s not in Japan, Ohtani’s image dominates advertising across the country, promoting products ranging from beverages and snacks to educational services.

Fellow Dodger Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was World Series MVP, took the mound as Japan’s starting pitcher and delivered 2 2/3 shutout innings. Japan’s next challenge comes Saturday against South Korea, while Chinese Taipei, now sitting at 0-2 following Thursday’s loss to Australia, will face Czechia in their upcoming match.

The atmosphere mirrors last year’s season opener at Tokyo Dome, where Ohtani helped the Dodgers sweep the Cubs in a two-game series. Fans are creating long lines throughout the venue to purchase official WBC merchandise, creating a festival-like environment.

The tournament spans from March 5-17, with games taking place in Tokyo, Puerto Rico, Houston, and Miami. Twenty national teams are competing in round-robin format within their respective pools, with the top two teams from each group moving forward to the quarterfinals.

Japan enters Pool C as the reigning champions following their thrilling 2023 championship victory over the United States. That final concluded dramatically when Ohtani struck out his then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out. The triumph added to Japan’s previous championships in 2006 and 2009, maintaining their streak of reaching at least the semifinals in every tournament.

The Dodgers are limiting Ohtani to designated hitter duties only, hoping to protect his pitching arm for the upcoming MLB season. The two-way phenomenon, often compared to Babe Ruth for his dual abilities, logged only 47 pitching innings during the 2024 regular season while recovering from his second elbow surgery.

That batting focus paid dividends as Ohtani made history by becoming the first player ever to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, earning unanimous National League MVP recognition. He collected three hits in four plate appearances Friday before being removed in the seventh inning.

Despite Ohtani’s absence from the pitching rotation, Japan boasts impressive depth on the mound with Dodgers teammates Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi, plus Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. The roster features eight Major League players total, with the remaining spots filled by stars from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league.

Streaming service Netflix has made a significant investment in the tournament’s Japanese broadcast rights, securing all 47 games for reportedly 15 billion yen ($95.26 million) – five times what broadcasters paid in 2023, according to Japanese media reports.

While Netflix declined to confirm the rights fee amount, the company is organizing approximately 150 public viewing parties across Japan and offering subscriber discounts. However, some fans and media outlets have expressed frustration that the games won’t be available on traditional free television for the first time in tournament history.