Baseball Superstar Ohtani Takes Center Stage at World Baseball Classic in Tokyo

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is dominating attention as Japan prepares to defend its World Baseball Classic title. The tournament begins Friday with Japan facing Taiwan in Group C play at the Tokyo Dome.

TOKYO — While the tournament carries the official title of World Baseball Classic, the Group C competition taking place in Japan might as well be called the Shohei Ohtani showcase.

The Tokyo Dome has been transformed into a shrine to the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar, with massive images of Ohtani displayed throughout the venue. Adjacent merchandise stands are packed with his jerseys, each carrying a price tag of approximately $125. Japan kicks off competition Friday in a matchup with Taiwan, while South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic round out the group.

As the reigning champions, Japan enters as a strong contender to secure one of two available quarterfinal berths that would send them to the United States for the next round.

Hundreds of fans who packed the stadium Wednesday hoping to catch Ohtani during batting practice left disappointed when the star decided to skip the session. He’s been conserving his energy despite struggling at the plate, going hitless in five at-bats since returning to Japan for exhibition contests against domestic league clubs.

During a press conference conducted in Japanese, Ohtani reflected on his role with the national team: “Every time I join (the Japanese team) there are younger and younger players — younger players are increasing. So I feel I’m getting old,” said the 31-year-old phenomenon.

Japan stands as more than just a favorite to progress — there’s speculation about a potential championship rematch with the United States in Miami. The 2021 tournament concluded with Japan edging America 3-2 in a thrilling finale where Ohtani’s strikeout of Mike Trout provided the dramatic ending that significantly elevated the WBC’s profile.

While Ohtani is anticipated to focus solely on hitting rather than pitching — the Dodgers prefer to preserve his arm for the regular season — he hasn’t completely ruled out taking the mound. When questioned about potentially pitching, he responded through interpreter Will Ireton: “It’s hard to say. But if (Mike) Trout shows up, it’s tempting.”

However, Trout won’t participate for Team USA this time due to insurance complications that have sidelined several prominent players.

Australia’s roster features Travis Bazzana at second base, who made history as the first Australian selected with the top overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft by the Cleveland Guardians.

Like many young athletes, Bazzana considers Ohtani his inspiration. “I personally believe he is the greatest of all time,” Bazzana stated. “He epitomizes the work ethic and mastering his craft in baseball. That is someone I look up to, but when it comes to that game in a couple of days — you can’t focus on who’s across the field.”

Japan boasts an impressive offensive roster featuring Ohtani alongside fellow MLB standouts Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto and Seiya Suzuki. The pitching rotation has undergone changes since 2023, losing key arms including Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga and Yu Darvish.

The staff will be anchored by World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who now teammates with Ohtani on the Dodgers.

Australian manager Dave Nilsson, a former Milwaukee Brewers all-star catcher, acknowledged the challenge ahead: “It’s a chance to go up against the best team in the world and it’s a special event going against Ohtani.”

“It’s going to be a big moment for the fans and for Japan,” Nilsson continued. “We’re not going to get caught up in the sideshow.”