Spanish
MIAMI.— Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani continues to prepare as a pitcher for the upcoming Major League Baseball season, although he reiterated that he will not take the mound during the World Baseball Classic 2026.
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The two-way player for the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a four-inning live pitching practice session on Thursday against batters from the Japan national baseball team at loanDepot park in Miami, during the training day prior to the quarter-final match against the Venezuela national baseball team. During practice, Ohtani threw 59 pitches, faced 18 batters, and struck out seven, in a session that is part of his preparation process to return to the mound with the Dodgers when the regular season begins on March 26. "I've been progressing with my own adjustments as a pitcher while participating in the tournament. I think I got good results in both volume and quality and I feel like I'm preparing well for the new season," explained Ohtani after the session. Despite working as a pitcher during training, the Japanese star clarified that his role in the Classic will be limited to offense. The player indicated that the decision also responds to an agreement with the Dodgers, an organization to which he wishes to show respect while preparing for his first full season as a two-way player with the team. "For now, pitching in the Classic is not going to happen. It's also a promise made with the Dodgers. The best thing is to contribute to the team from the offense," he affirmed. Ohtani explained that the only possibility of changing that plan would be an eventual emergency situation within Japan's pitching staff, although he made it clear that it is not something planned under current circumstances. The Japanese star comes from pitching 67.1 innings last season between the regular season and postseason with the Dodgers, recording an ERA of 3.34 and 90 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Japan will continue its path in the 2026 World Baseball Classic with Ohtani as a key piece in the offense of the Asian team in the elimination phase of the tournament.
