Ohtani to Play for Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani announced Monday that he will represent Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, aiming to defend the title his team won in 2023. The 31-year-old two-way player shared the news on Instagram in Japanese, stating he is happy to play and represent Japan again.

Ohtani's decision comes shortly after a dominant season with the Dodgers, where he earned his fourth Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player award and helped the team secure back-to-back World Series championships in 2024 and 2025. In the 2025 postseason, Ohtani delivered one of the most remarkable performances in league history during Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 10 batters while hitting three home runs in a single game to complete a sweep. He had returned to pitching that season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, which sidelined him from the mound the previous year.

The World Baseball Classic, an international tournament featuring top players from around the globe, is scheduled for March 5 to 17, 2026, with games in Houston, Tokyo, San Juan and Miami. The championship will take place at loanDepot Park...