Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that superstar Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, opting instead to focus solely as a designated hitter to help defend the title. The decision prioritizes his full pitching workload with the Dodgers.
At DodgerFest in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that two-way star Shohei Ohtani has decided against pitching in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (March 5-17). The 31-year-old, who earned MVP honors in the 2023 tournament with two starts including a championship-clinching strikeout of Mike Trout against the U.S., will serve exclusively as designated hitter for Samurai Japan.
Ohtani's choice follows a major elbow injury in August 2023 that required surgery, sidelining him from pitching in his 2024 Dodgers debut as a full-time DH. He returned to the mound last June after a second surgery in September 2023 and a nearly 22-month absence, making 14 starts in 2025 with a 1-1 record, 2.87 ERA, and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings. As a hitter, he batted .282 with 55 home runs and 20 stolen bases, while logging four postseason starts en route to the Dodgers' second consecutive World Series title.
Roberts noted the decision was Ohtani's own, supported by the team: "Understanding what he did last year... it just seemed like the right decision." The Dodgers plan a six-man rotation with extra rest for Ohtani's dual role, treating him as a "normal pitcher" without short outings.
Speaking through a translator, Ohtani expressed health confidence after an injury-free offseason: "I’m very healthy. Glad that I am... I needed to see how my body feels." Teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the 2024 World Series MVP who led the Dodgers with 173 2/3 innings in 2025, will pitch for Japan: "Wearing a Japanese uniform once again fills me with a deep sense of pride."
Other notes: 2023 WBC teammate Roki Sasaki will skip pitching after an uneven rookie year. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman is sitting out Canada's tournament for family reasons, staying near California. Additional Dodgers participants include Will Smith for Team USA and Hyeseong Kim for South Korea.
Looking to spring training starting February 13 in Arizona, Roberts is confident in an Ohtani-leadoff lineup, Mookie Betts third, Will Smith fifth, with flexibility elsewhere.
