Ohtani trending on Twitter
The 2023 World Baseball Classic is in the books, and it had a fairytale ending thanks to Shohei Ohtani, who got his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout out to seal Japan’s victory in the tournament’s championship game on Tuesday. To complete the 3-2 victory, Ohtani came out of the bullpen.
MLB couldn’t have written a finer conclusion.With the help of the championship game save, Japan won its third World Baseball Classic championship overall, and Ohtani was awarded the tournament’s MVP. He pitched to a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings and hit.435/.606/.739 with four doubles, a home run, and ten walks during the tournament. Ohtani was the World Baseball Classic’s greatest pitcher and hitter. He is astonishing.
Ohtani competing for Japan
Ohtani started the game-tying rally with a double in the ninth inning of Monday’s semifinal game against Mexico. Both as a pitcher and a hitter, he was the highlight of the ninth inning in Japan’s final two games.He missed the 2017 World Baseball Classic due to an ankle injury, therefore this was Ohtani’s first World Baseball Classic.
Ohtani is now one of four WBC MVPs, the others being Marcus Stroman (2017), Robinson Canó (2013), and Daisuke Matsuzaka (2006, 2009). After the 2023 season, Ohtani will be a free agent, but the chance to earn money and the associated danger did not deter him from competing for Japan.
Moreover, Japan won the WBCs in 2006 and 2009. They join the 2013 Dominican Republic team as the only unbeaten teams.