Shohei Ohtani confirmed Monday that he will play for Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, committing to the national team for the first time since leading Japan to the 2023 championship.
Ohtani made the announcement on social media, saying he was “happy to be able to play again representing Japan.” The decision comes shortly after he helped the Dodgers win another World Series and added yet another MVP award to his résumé. (NBC 4)
Japan enters the 2026 tournament as the defending champion, and Ohtani was the centerpiece of that title run. In 2023, he earned WBC MVP honors after dominating as both a pitcher and hitter, punctuated by striking out then-teammate Mike Trout to win the championship.
It is not yet confirmed whether Ohtani will participate as a full two-way player. He returned to pitching this past season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, while still producing MVP-level numbers at the plate.
Japan will open WBC pool play on March 6 at Tokyo Dome, competing in a group that includes South Korea, Australia, Chinese Taipei and Czechia. Ohtani’s early commitment immediately boosts Japan’s chances of repeating and positions the team as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders.
For the Dodgers, the announcement simply means their star will get additional high-level reps in March. For Japan, it means the face of global baseball is back in their lineup on the sport’s biggest international stage.