Shohei Ohtani conducted a four-inning live batting practice session on Thursday at loanDepot park in Miami. The session prepares him for the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2026 season while he focuses on hitting for Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Japan faces Venezuela in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
In Miami, Shohei Ohtani, the two-way star for the Los Angeles Dodgers, threw 59 pitches during a four-inning live batting practice against Samurai Japan hitters. He faced 18 hitters and recorded seven strikeouts on Thursday, the team's workout day before their quarterfinal matchup against Venezuela, scheduled for Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.
This session forms part of Ohtani's preparation to pitch when the Dodgers' regular season begins on March 26, despite his absence from spring training due to the Classic. Ohtani, who is only hitting and not pitching in this year's 2026 World Baseball Classic, emphasized his parallel adjustments as a pitcher. "I've been proceeding with my own adjustments as a pitcher in parallel with the tournament," Ohtani said in Japanese after the session. "I think it produced good results in both volume and quality. So I feel that I'm preparing well for the new season."
Ohtani pitched and hit in the 2023 WBC, where he struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure Japan's championship win over Team USA. However, following elbow surgery during the 2025 season and a demanding postseason for the Dodgers, he is approaching his first full two-way season with caution. Last year, after returning to pitching on June 16, Ohtani made 14 regular-season starts and four postseason appearances, totaling 67 1/3 innings with a 3.34 ERA and 90 strikeouts.
Ohtani reiterated that he will not pitch in the tournament, honoring an agreement with the Dodgers. "As of now, playing as a pitcher in the WBC is not happening," he said. "That is also a promise made with the [Dodgers], and there's a part of it that feels like it's about showing sincerity toward the organization that willingly sent me off. I think it's best to first contribute solidly on the offensive side."
He noted that only an unforeseen injury crisis in Japan's pitching staff might alter this plan, though he considers it unlikely under current circumstances. Ohtani expressed no regrets, confident in Japan's pitchers, particularly the young talents showcased in the Tokyo round. "I have no feelings of dissatisfaction regarding not being able to pitch in the WBC," he added. "Even without me pitching, Team Japan has wonderful pitchers... Being able to show the other countries that there are wonderful pitchers among the young [Japanese] players is also something I am personally very much looking forward to."
