Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani to skip pitching duties for Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic
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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.
Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge headlined the 101st New York Baseball Writers’ Gala on January 25, 2026, where they received their league MVP awards for the 2025 season. Ohtani delivered his acceptance speech in English, thanking the Dodgers organization and highlighting the award's significance. The event also honored other BBWAA award winners and introduced the first Most Valuable Dog award to Ohtani's pet, Decoy.
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MLB Network will honor baseball star Shohei Ohtani with 'Shohei Day,' a full day of focused programming on January 7, 2026, starting at 9 a.m. ET. The event recognizes Ohtani's jersey number 17 through the date 1/7 and highlights his groundbreaking career achievements. Fans can access the content via MLB Network's platforms, including rebroadcasts of key games and special analyses.
Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto headlined the National League’s 2025 Silver Slugger class announced Thursday. Soto collected his sixth Silver Slugger of his career and Ohtani earned his fourth. Major League Baseball unveiled the winners as voted by managers and coaches.
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Juan Soto has been named a finalist for the 2025 National League MVP award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The New York Mets outfielder joins Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies in the race, with the winner to be announced on Nov. 13. Soto's standout season included leading the NL in on-base percentage and walks.