Shohei Ohtani to Hit, Not Pitch, for Japan in World Baseball Classic

Dodgers star focuses on Cy Young bid, managing workload ahead of MLB season

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar, will not be pitching for Team Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Instead, he will serve as the designated hitter as Japan defends its 2023 WBC title. Ohtani's decision to focus on hitting and managing his workload is aimed at his goal of winning the Cy Young Award with the Dodgers this season.

Why it matters

Ohtani's participation as both a pitcher and hitter has been a major draw for the World Baseball Classic, and his absence from the mound will be felt. However, his decision aligns with his long-term goals of winning individual accolades and helping the Dodgers succeed, which takes priority over the international tournament.

The details

Ohtani announced his decision not to pitch in the WBC at DodgerFest in January, citing a desire to manage his workload and focus on preparing for the MLB season. His manager, Dave Roberts, supported the decision, noting that it was the right call for Ohtani's development and pursuit of the Cy Young Award. Ohtani explained that being able to pitch more innings throughout the season is key to winning the Cy Young, and he wants to prioritize that goal over the WBC.

  • Ohtani announced his decision not to pitch in the WBC at DodgerFest on January 31, 2026.
  • Japan begins its WBC title defense on March 6, 2026 against Chinese Taipei.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A Los Angeles Dodgers superstar who excels as both a pitcher and designated hitter, and helped lead Japan to the 2023 World Baseball Classic title.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who supported Ohtani's decision not to pitch in the WBC in order to focus on his goals for the MLB season.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A Dodgers teammate of Ohtani's who will headline Japan's pitching rotation at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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What they’re saying

“Understanding what he did last year, what he had to go through to then how best to prepare himself for '26 to do both – it just seemed like the right decision. So, I wasn't surprised – and feel really good with that one.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager (MLB.com)

“Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season. So if that's the end result, that's a good sign for me.”

— Shohei Ohtani (MLB.com)

What’s next

Japan will begin its World Baseball Classic title defense on March 6, 2026 against Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome.

The takeaway

Shohei Ohtani's decision to focus on hitting and managing his workload for the Dodgers, rather than pitching for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, highlights his long-term goals of winning individual accolades like the Cy Young Award. This move prioritizes his MLB development over the international tournament, though his absence from the mound will be felt by fans.