What a dilemma surrounds Shohei Ohtani. The Japan national team and the Los Angeles Dodgers want him fit at the same time so that both teams can seek to win their respective titles. Samurai Japan and Los Angeles want to conquer their classics; the Japanese the Baseball World Cup and the Angelenos the World Series.
As part of its planning for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), the Japanese team is working cautiously around the Los Angeles pitcher. Ohtani has expressed his desire to play in the sixth edition of the tournament. However, his schedule overlaps with the Dodgers’ 2026 MLB season.
Hirokazu Ibata, manager of Samurai Japan, told the Japanese press that he feels a little frustrated by the lack of clarity surrounding the Dodgers star. He is waiting for a response from the Los Angeles organization or the pitcher himself to adjust dates and the work plan. For now, everything is shrouded in secrecy.
MLB and the Players’ Association are taking their time to balance the number of Major League Baseball players on each of the 20 teams. They want to ensure fairness among the 30 MLB teams. Once this is achieved, other planning can proceed. This is why there is a delay in clarifying the situation.
The Dodgers are looking for a three-peat. That’s why there is a slight fear in Los Angeles that Ohtani will play in the WBC, because they fear that he may be affected in his performance. They are especially concerned about physical wear and tear or injury because after the WBC there is a streak of more than 100 consecutive games to play.
In both cases, Ohtani wants to be on the field. He is excited about the idea of being a three-time major league champion with Los Angeles and is fascinated by the prospect of establishing himself internationally with the Japan national team. It’s all about finding the best solution for all parties involved.
Ohtani’s enthusiasm
In the 2023 edition of the WBC, Samurai Japan, led by Shohei Ohtani, faced the United States. With only one run down in the ninth inning, Ohtani took the mound as the seventh pitcher. He struck out his former Angels teammate Mike Trout and sealed Japan’s first world championship in three tournaments.
That memory continues to give the Japanese pitcher goosebumps. It means a lot to him to be a champion with his country’s national team. Winning with the national team is also about being close to his people and does not clash at all with his professional career in Los Angeles, where he is an idol.
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