Ohtani, Youth Shine in Thrilling World Baseball Classic Opener

Records fall as young stars like Ohtani, Ramirez, and Contreras make their mark on the tournament's first full day of action.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The first full day of the 2026 World Baseball Classic featured a number of standout performances and historic moments. Shohei Ohtani set a WBC record with 5 RBIs in a single inning, helping Japan to a 13-0 mercy-rule victory. Other young stars like Brazil's Lucas Ramirez and 17-year-old Joseph Contreras also made their mark, with Ramirez becoming the youngest player to hit multiple homers in a WBC game. The tournament also saw its first-ever 4-strikeout inning from Dominican Republic pitcher Cristopher Sánchez, and a 450-foot home run blast from Oneil Cruz of the Dominican Republic.

Why it matters

The opening day of the World Baseball Classic showcased the tournament's ability to highlight the next generation of global baseball talent. With young stars like Ohtani, Ramirez, and Contreras stealing the spotlight, the WBC is proving to be an invaluable platform for up-and-coming players to make their mark on the international stage.

The details

Shohei Ohtani had a historic performance, hitting a grand slam and an RBI single in the same inning to set a WBC record with 5 RBIs in a single frame. Japan's 10-run second inning was also the highest-scoring in WBC history. Elsewhere, Brazil's Lucas Ramirez became the youngest player to hit multiple homers in a WBC game, while his teammate Joseph Contreras, at just 17 years old, became one of the youngest pitchers to debut in the tournament. Dominican Republic's Cristopher Sánchez made history with a 4-strikeout inning, and teammate Oneil Cruz launched a 450-foot home run, the longest and hardest-hit in the last two Classics.

  • Ohtani hit a grand slam and RBI single in the second inning on March 7, 2026.
  • Japan scored 10 runs in the second inning on March 7, 2026, the highest-scoring frame in WBC history.
  • Lucas Ramirez, at 20 years and 49 days old, hit multiple homers for Brazil on March 7, 2026.
  • 17-year-old Joseph Contreras pitched for Brazil on March 7, 2026, becoming one of the youngest WBC debutants.
  • Cristopher Sánchez recorded a 4-strikeout inning for the Dominican Republic on March 7, 2026.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A Japanese professional baseball player who plays for the Los Angeles Angels in MLB and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world.

Lucas Ramirez

A 20-year-old Brazilian baseball player and the son of former MLB player Manny Ramirez.

Joseph Contreras

A 17-year-old Brazilian baseball player and the son of former MLB pitcher José Contreras.

Cristopher Sánchez

A Dominican Republic professional baseball pitcher.

Oneil Cruz

A Dominican Republic professional baseball player who plays in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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What they’re saying

“Ohtani's performance was truly remarkable. To set a WBC record with 5 RBIs in a single inning is just incredible.”

— Sarah Langs, MLB.com Reporter (mlb.com)

What’s next

The World Baseball Classic will continue with more pool play action over the coming days, as teams look to advance to the later rounds of the tournament.

The takeaway

The opening day of the 2026 World Baseball Classic showcased the tournament's ability to highlight the next generation of global baseball talent. Young stars like Shohei Ohtani, Lucas Ramirez, and Joseph Contreras stole the spotlight with their historic performances, demonstrating the WBC's value as a platform for up-and-coming players to make their mark on the international stage.