Ohtani and Acuña Jr. Hit Leadoff Home Runs in WBC Quarterfinal

The two superstars made history with their power display to start the game.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:18am

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Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr., two of baseball's biggest stars, opened a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup with back-to-back leadoff home runs, the first time that has happened in WBC or MLB history. Acuña homered on the second pitch, while Ohtani followed with a 427-foot blast to tie the game 1-1.

Why it matters

Ohtani and Acuña are two of the most dominant players in the game today, and their power display to start the high-stakes WBC quarterfinal showcased the incredible talent on display in the international tournament.

The details

Acuña's home run traveled 401 feet to right-center field off Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP. Ohtani then stepped up and crushed a 2-1 slider 427 feet to center field off Ranger Suárez to tie the game. Both players are former MVPs, with Ohtani a four-time winner and Acuña taking home the 2023 NL MVP award.

  • The game took place on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A four-time MLB MVP who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ronald Acuña Jr.

The 2023 NL MVP who plays for the Atlanta Braves.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

The reigning World Series MVP, pitching for Japan in the WBC quarterfinal.

Ranger Suárez

The Philadelphia Phillies pitcher who faced Ohtani in the bottom of the first inning.

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The takeaway

The opening sequence between Ohtani and Acuña Jr. showcased the incredible talent and star power on display in the World Baseball Classic, as two of baseball's best players traded blows to start a high-stakes quarterfinal matchup.