Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said during DodgerFest 2026 that reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Team Japan at the World Baseball Classic.
Shohei Ohtani won’t be a two-way player for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday at DodgerFest.
“He’s not going to pitch in the WBC, but he will be ramping up his arm to get ready for the season,” Roberts said.
Earlier in the day, Ohtani said his status as a pitcher for the WBC remained undetermined. Ohtani said he’d already thrown three or four bullpen sessions this offseason.
But Roberts said it was decided about a month ago that Ohtani would be a designated hitter in the WBC.
