Los Angeles, February 1, 2026 — The Europe Today: Shohei Ohtani will represent Japan at the World Baseball Classic in March but will not pitch for the defending champions, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday.
Roberts explained that the decision was made by Ohtani himself, with the 31-year-old two-way star opting to delay his return to the mound until the start of the Dodgers’ 2026 Major League Baseball season. Ohtani is expected to be available as a hitter during the tournament.
Ohtani famously secured Japan’s 2023 World Baseball Classic title by striking out then–Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout in the final and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Japan will be seeking a fourth championship in six editions of the Classic.
The Dodgers star said he expects to be fully ready to pitch once the MLB regular season begins in late March. Ohtani underwent two right elbow surgeries in 2023 and did not return to pitching duties for the Dodgers until June last year.
During the 2025 MLB season, Ohtani pitched 47 innings, posting a 2.87 earned-run average with 62 strikeouts and just nine walks. In his first postseason appearances on the mound, he recorded a 2–1 record with a 4.43 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 20 1/3 innings.
A five-time MLB All-Star and four-time league Most Valuable Player, Ohtani is expected to play a key role for Japan as it aims to defend its World Baseball Classic crown, even without his pitching contributions during the tournament.
