No player in baseball history has shown a two-way ability at the level of Shohei Ohtani, and now the Team Japan and Los Angeles Angels star can add one more item to an already unprecedented résumé: World Baseball Classic closer.
Ohtani put the finishing touches on Japan’s undefeated run at the 2023 WBC on Tuesday, protecting a one-run lead in the ninth inning of a 3-2 win in Miami and giving his country an unmatched third title in the event’s history.
Ohtani started the game as Japan’s designated hitter, going 1-for-3 with a run and a walk at the plate. Even before he took the field, there was speculation about if he would see the mound after the Angels gave their public blessing for the former MVP to pitch. Ohtani moved between the dugout and bullpen several times in the later innings before finally emerging in the ninth for what will likely go down as one of the most watched moments in baseball history.
The inning started with a full-count walk of Jeff McNeil, but that was followed by a double-play off the bat of Mookie Betts. It all came down to a matchup so serendipitous it felt scripted: Ohtani vs. his Angels teammate Mike Trout, the most talented player of a generation against the most talented player of the previous generation.
Strikeout, ballgame, championship.
Ohtani’s teammates immediately mobbed him after the third out, and Japan had its first WBC title since it went back-to-back in the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009.
World Baseball Classic MVP: Shohei Ohtani (obviously)
Ohtani’s final stats in Japan’s seven wins: .435/.606/.739 with four doubles and a home run at the plate and a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings on the mound, plus a save.
No player hit a ball harder or threw a pitch harder than him in the entire tournament.
That performance earned Ohtani the World Baseball Classic MVP award, as well as two spots on the All-WBC team as a designated hitter and pitcher. Joining him was teammate Masataka Yoshida in the outfield, while Trout and shortstop Trea Turner represented Team USA.
Japan’s championship obviously came about through more than one player, though, as seen in the earlier innings, when Japan’s lineup took the lead while its pitching staff shut down the vaunted Team USA lineup.
The game began with each team’s recent hero continuing his success at the plate. Turner, who hit the game-winning grand slam against Venezuela and homered twice in the blowout of Cuba, homered in the second inning to give the U.S. an initial 1-0 lead.
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Wishing thinking……the Angels F.O. would never trade away one of their best players.
If the Angels would trade Ohtani to the Guardians, it would take a monumental package to please LAA, a couple of the Guards top two AAA pitching prospects, Shane Bieber, and two or three of the Guards AAA position player prospects plus……a #1 and #2 draft pick.
Guardians F.O. would never agree to acquire Ohtani and give what LAA would ask for in return.
Damn that would be exciting
Shohei Ohtani is already the greatest.
That is why he's The Sho PERIOD🔥🔥✊🏽✊🏽
LOL Shohei was safe I thought these dudes watched the game. 🤣
You expect to just give up a few prospects and marginal players for the best baseball player in the history of baseball? 🤣🤣🤣 How many prospects actually make it to the majors? They are a dime in a dozen. That's like trading Michael Jordan for a couple of G-league guys. If I were the Angels, you better be willing to give up a couple of solid starters plus prospects AND money or I'm going elsewhere.
Since when is it the Guardians? What happened to the Indians
名選手だった人たちのコメントを日本語訳つけてほしいな
Cleveland? Yea right 🤣
It'd be a nail in the coffin for Angels if they let go Ohtani just for money.
If Hollywood, bases load. Shohei prefers, not
Very thanks for giving chanece to watch your show in Tokyo. Appreciating for US for setting WBC stage. Will keeping watch your channel.
Dolans are too cheap. They will never, EVER trade for a an established star.
He has a better chance of being in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie than being on the Guardians 🤣
Shohei Ohtani wouldn’t go to Cleveland period.
今回はアメリカに勝てたが、
次回はどうなるかなんて分からない。
分析力が優秀なアメリカはきっと次回はもっと強力になっているはず
お互いに切磋琢磨して野球界を盛り上げていければいい
Fish in a pond. Ohtani has a higher chance of playing for my local softball team.
LOL! He ain't going to Cleveland unless he's playing away for the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers.
Cleveland? ROFL
12 year contract average 68 mils a year
Very good take by UCSS!!!
Ohtani to the Boston Red Soxs~ 60HR a year easy