(Photo : Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
On Tuesday, Japan secured their third World Baseball Classic (W.B.C) title with an undefeated run at the 2023 tournament in Miami. In a thrilling finale, Shohei Ohtani, a two-way player who both pitches and hits, closed out the game with a strikeout of Mike Trout, preserving Japan's one-run lead in a 3-2 victory. Ohtani's all-around excellence throughout the tournament earned him the most valuable player award, which came as no surprise.
In an interview afterward, the 28-year-old two-way player expressed his joy at this moment being the best of his career. He also shared his hopes that the Los Angeles Angels could have a similarly triumphant finish to their upcoming season.
"As the season is about to start, I think the next step is to win in the postseason, the World Series," said Ohtani through an interpreter.
Overall, the W.B.C. 2023 was a thrilling tournament, and Ohtani's performance in the finale was a fitting end to an exciting competition.
Who is Shohei Ohtani?
Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese professional baseball player who has gained worldwide recognition for his two-way abilities as both a pitcher and a designated hitter. He was born in 1994 in Ōshū, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and began playing baseball at a young age.
Ohtani made his professional debut for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2013, where he quickly established himself as a dominant player. He won the Pacific League Rookie of the Year award that year and went on to win the Pacific League MVP award in 2016.
In 2017, Ohtani announced that he would be moving to Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States, sparking a bidding war among several teams. He ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Angels, where he has played since.
Ohtani's MLB debut in 2018 was highly anticipated, and he quickly proved himself as a talented player. He became the first player in nearly a century to regularly pitch and hit for his team, earning him the nickname "the Japanese Babe Ruth."
However, Ohtani's first season in the MLB was cut short due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He returned to the field in 2019 as a designated hitter and began pitching again in 2020.
Ohtani's performance in the 2023 W.B.C. was a testament to his skills as both a pitcher and hitter, further solidifying his status as one of the best players in the game today.
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