Shohei Ohtani’s Decision to Skip WBC

The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) concluded with a dramatic moment as Angels teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout faced off. In a high-stakes matchup, Ohtani struck out Trout on a 3-and-2 slider, securing Japan its third WBC championship. However, this year’s edition will not feature similar drama for Ohtani, at least not on the mound.

During DodgerFest on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts addressed a key question regarding Ohtani’s participation in the upcoming WBC. He confirmed that Ohtani will not be pitching in the tournament but will focus on building up his arm strength for the season. “He made the decision himself,” Roberts said. “I wasn’t surprised. I can’t even say I was relieved. Understanding what he did last year, understanding what he had to go through, to then how best to prepare himself for ’26 to do both, it just seemed like the right decision.”

Ohtani initially expressed interest in participating in the WBC in November but did not clarify whether he would pitch. When Team Japan’s roster was announced, manager Hirokazu Ibata remained vague about Ohtani’s role, stating that they would gain more clarity during spring training. Before Roberts spoke, Ohtani mentioned he was unsure if he would pitch in the tournament. “In terms of the World Baseball Classic, I just have to see how my body feels, continue to feel the progression and see what happens so I’m gonna be fully prepared as a DH,” he said through an interpreter.

Roberts emphasized that Ohtani will not be managed differently in terms of each outing. “There’s certainly going to be extra time, it’s not a five-day, six-day rotation. So there’s going to be rest in between. But outside of that, it’s not going to be the two-inning, three-inning [start], he’s just going to be used as a normal pitcher.”

In 2023, Ohtani was the MVP of the WBC with a .435 batting average and a 1.86 ERA. Five months later, he was pulled from a start at Angel Stadium due to a torn elbow ligament. Ohtani underwent his second Tommy John surgery in September 2024 and did not return to pitching until last June with the Dodgers.

In his first year pitching for the Dodgers, Ohtani finished the regular season with a 2.87 ERA in 47 innings. In the playoffs, he posted a 4.43 ERA in 20-1/3 innings over four starts — including one in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series in which he struck out 10 while hitting three home runs. This performance earned him the series MVP, which Roberts called “probably the greatest postseason performance of all time.”

Other Players and Their WBC Participation

MLB players like Ohtani and Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto are expected to join Team Japan for exhibition games on March 2. Japan will open WBC play on March 6 against Taiwan.

Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki, who is returning to the starting rotation after missing most of his rookie season due to a shoulder injury, said Saturday that the Dodgers made him unavailable for the WBC. Sasaki was on Team Japan in 2023, starting two games, including a dramatic semifinal win over Mexico.

Miguel Rojas and His Return to the Dodgers

World Series hero Miguel Rojas shared his thoughts on Kiké Hernández’s potential return to the Dodgers. Rojas believes Hernández will re-sign with the team despite undergoing surgery in November to repair a torn left elbow extensor muscle. “We all know how important he is for the clubhouse, for the organization for the fans, for the city of L.A., and he deserves to be here with us, too,” Rojas said.

Rojas also expressed disappointment in not being able to play for Venezuela in the WBC. “I didn’t know that my chance to go represent my country for the first and only time, probably as a player, was going to get caught up because of an insurance problem,” he said. He questioned why many Latin players from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic face similar issues, noting that it doesn’t seem to happen with the United States or Japan.

Freddie Freeman’s Withdrawal from WBC

Freddie Freeman decided to withdraw from representing Team Canada in the WBC, but the reasons behind it have nothing to do with his health. “I feel great, my body feels great,” he said. “Canada knows it’s a personal reason and you guys will probably hear about it in a month or two, but they’re very supportive.” The only reason he hinted at was the traveling distance, as Canada is scheduled to compete in pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Blake Snell’s Recovery Plan

Coming into the 2026 season, left-hander Blake Snell said he feels good but plans to ramp up his arm slowly. “My shoulder never felt great,” he said. “Never felt what I was, you know, the normal that I’ve felt my whole career.” Snell underwent physical therapy during the offseason, which has helped strengthen his shoulder. When asked if surgery was ever an option, he shook his head and said no. “I’m going to ramp up slowly,” Snell said. “That’s all I’m doing.”