22 March 2023 , 20:20
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Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani will go from winning the World Baseball Classic to pitching at a minor league contest on Friday as he prepares for the 2023 MLB season.
On Tuesday, Ohtani led Japan to an electrifying WBC championship victory as they defeated Team USA 3-2 in front of a sellout crowd at LoanDepot Park in Miami while millions around the world watched along. Ohtani was named the 2023 WBC MVP, cementing his status as the true star of baseball.
Just three days after securing Japan’s third WBC crown, Ohtani will pitch at a minor league game in Tempe, Arizona on Friday. The two-way star is returning to spring camp after his incredible tournament as he gears up for a 2023 MLB season with the Angels.
Ohtani likely won't pitch in any more Cactus League games with the MLB season just a week away. The Angels face the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on 29 March.
The 28-year-old led Japan to its first WBC title since 2009 in an anticipated clash that certainly lived up to the pre-match hype, with the captain facing his Angels team-mate - and USA skipper - Mike Trout in the ninth and final innings with one out remaining. Ohtani - nicknamed ‘Shotime’ - came out on top to spark wild celebrations on the field and in the stands.
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Ohtani was quick to praise Trout and the incredible moment, telling ESPN: “It was the greatest situation facing the greatest hitter. Not only for Japan, I feel like this tournament was great for baseball in general. I think baseball took a step forward.”
Shohei Ohtani got the final three outs to seal Japan's 3-2 win over the United States (Kyodo)The Japanese star has quickly become the face of baseball after an electric run. Ohtani won the 2021 AL MVP award with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred praising his ‘historically significant’ season as he became the first two-way player in league history with 10+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases as a hitter as well as over 100 strikeouts as a pitcher.
To cap off his incredible season, Ohtani also became the first player in MLB history to be named an All-Star as both a pitcher and a hitter after he was a starter in the 2021 All-Star Game in both positions. He continued his fine form in 2022, becoming the first player in the modern era to qualify for both the hitting and pitching leaderboards in one season.
Simply put, Ohtani is a phenom. He signed a one-year deal for $30million with the Angels back in October but is set to be a free agent at the end of the 2023 season and is reportedly set to receive a contract more valuable than Angels team-mate Trout, who signed a 12-year deal worth $426.5m in 2019.
Ohtani has made it clear he wants to compete for a World Series and play for a contender, which he has not been able to do with the Angels as they missed the 2022 playoffs. However, his next destination will have to stump up an eye-watering figure for his unique services.