Los Angeles Dodgers fans no longer have to worry about Shohei Ohtani throwing out his arm during the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
That’s because the world’s greatest player won’t be pitching in the WBC, as reported by multiple sources on Saturday.
It is apparently Ohtani’s decision not to pitch in the tournament.
Ohtani delivered another extraordinary chapter in his remarkable career during the 2025 MLB season with the Dodgers. Returning to two-way play after his pitching rehab, he made limited but effective starts on the mound, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA over 47 innings, striking out 62 batters with exceptional control (just nine walks) and reaching career-high fastball velocities up to 101.7 mph.
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At the plate, Ohtani remained dominant, batting .282 with a .392 on-base percentage and .622 slugging for a 1.014 OPS across 158 games and 611 at-bats. He smashed a career-high 55 home runs (third in MLB), drove in 102 runs, scored 146 times, and added 20 stolen bases. His power-speed combination and elite production earned him his fourth MVP award, fourth Silver Slugger, and another All-Star selection.
In the postseason, Ohtani earned NLCS MVP honors with a standout performance in Game 4 against the Brewers, hitting three home runs and striking out 10 over six-plus scoreless innings to clinch the series. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series over the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games, marking Ohtani’s second consecutive championship. His World Series stats included a .333/.500/.778 line with multiple home runs and key contributions.
Overall, Ohtani’s career now features 280 home runs, a .282 batting average, over 1,050 hits, and growing accolades as baseball’s premier two-way talent.
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Featured image via Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images
