4x MVP Shohei Ohtani Announces Intention to Play in WBC 2026 with Team Japan

Shohei Ohtani was named as the MVP of the 2023 World Baseball Classic as he batted with a .435 average and went 2-0 as a pitcher with a 1.86 ERA.

4x MVP Shohei Ohtani Announces Intention to Play in WBC 2026 with Team Japan

Shohei Ohtani for Team Japan (Image via Fox Sports)

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Shohei Ohtani had another impressive campaign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025. The two-way star claimed his 4th MVP award as his team went back-to-back as World Series champions. On Monday, he revealed his intention of playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2026 and represent Japan once again.

Ohtani and his national side came out on top in the previous edition in 2023. In the competition return, Japan faced off against Team USA in the final. The closing moments of the tournament saw Ohtani, the Japanese captain, face off against his then-teammate and US captain Mike Trout.

In the battle of the two superstars, Ohtani emerged victorious. Trout would go down swinging against the Japanese international as the final out. Japan emerged as 3-2 winners and clinched their third WBC title.

Meanwhile, Ohtani was named the MVP of the tournament. He batted with a .435 average with 1 home run and 8 RBIs in the 7 games. As a pitcher, he went 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts in three outings.

On Monday, Ohtani penned down a heartfelt message on his Instagram account. The Dodgers star thanked the fans for their support. He then revealed his intention of joining Team Samurai Japan once again in 2026 and trying to defend their crown.

Thank you to all the fans for another great season. I’ll train hard and look forward to seeing you all next year.

Shohei Ohtani on Instagram

Shohei Ohtani had his team have been grouped with Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Australia and Czechia in Pool C. They will begin their title defense on March 6 at Tokyo Dome.

Several big names have already committed to playing in the WBC. One of them is Aaron Judge, who will not only be making his WBC debut but also will be leading Team USA as the captain.

Dodgers do not want Shohei Ohtani and other Japanese stars to pitch in WBC

The World Baseball Classic will return in 2026, featuring 20 teams. Led by Shohei Ohtani, Team Japan is one of the favorites to go the distance once again. While Ohtani will bat, there are doubts about him pitching in this tournament.

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani (Image via Newsweek)

This year, Ohtani returned to pitching and resumed his two-way role. He suffered an injury towards the end of the 2023 season and underwent surgery. This saw him play only as the designated hitter (DH) in the 2024 season.

While there is no problem regarding his shoulder this time, the Dodgers do not wish for him and his teammates, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, to pitch.

Yamamoto made 30 starts in the regular season in 2025 and became the ace of the team. He started Game 6 of the World Series and came out of the bullpen in Game 7 and closed out the game, throwing 2.2 innings on zero days’ rest. He would end up being named the World Series MVP.

Meanwhile, Sasaki became a part of the Dodgers bullpen after being sidelined for some time due to injury. With the three of them expected to be part of the pitching rotation next season, the Dodgers want to be a bit cautious.

The new season will kick off just a week after the WBC. The Dodgers, who now want to three-peat the title having won back-to-back championships, want to take it safe.

The team could block Sasaki’s participation, since he was on the 60-day injured list in 2025. However, the team has not given an indication regarding this yet. They could try and advocate for Team Japan to use these arms more conservatively. A final decision will likely be made once the tournament inches closer.

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