Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke to the media about Shohei Ohtani’s status heading into the World Baseball Classic at the MLB Winter Meetings.
Ohtani made his return to the mound in 2025 after not pitching for the entirety of 2024, and slowly worked his way up to pitching six innings towards the end of the season. With the extended season, though, and the quick start up with the WBC, the Dodgers are being cautious with Ohtani’s participation in the tournament.
“I don’t know,” Roberts said when asked if Ohtani would pitch in the WBC. “I’m hoping he doesn’t. … I would say, the thought is he’s probably just going to hit, but I don’t know.”
Ohtani had a fantastic season upon his return to pitching, posting a 2.87 ERA through 14 starts, spanning 47 innings. He recorded 62 strikeouts throughout his outings, and posted the second-lowest WHIP of his career (1.043).
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He stretched his dominance into the postseason, making four starts and earning two wins, throwing a total of 20 innings. He struck out 28 batters in that time, 10 of which came against the Milwaukee Brewers in one of the best postseason performances of all time.
The Dodgers understandably hold some concern over Ohtani’s health heading into 2026, as he has undergone a couple of surgeries on his elbow and has missed extended periods of time following both of them.
Ohtani will still be enough of a contributor for Team Japan with only a bat, as his offense alone led him to an MVP award in 2024.
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Team Japan is looking for their record fourth WBC championship next season, as well as their second in a row. Ohtani is confirmed to be on the roster in the upcoming season, and preliminary roster inclusion Roki Sasaki will join him as they look to win another title together. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is yet to be named on the preliminary roster.
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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