Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani is determined to represent his country in his first ever World Baseball Classic.
The event will start on March 8, and will bring together 20 national baseball teams and lots of major leaguers.
Japan won the first two editions of the tournament, in 2006 and 2009, but Ohtani was a kid when that happened.
This will be his first WBC and a prime opportunity to show his talents to the whole world.
He has already reported to the Angels’ training camp to get ready for the WBC and the 2023 MLB regular season, which will start on March 30.
Angels insider Sam Blum, who covers the team for The Athletic, detailed his spring training schedule and plan.
“Shohei Ohtani will now make his first spring training start on Feb. 28 at Oakland. He’ll DH the first two ST games,” Blum tweeted.
Shohei Ohtani will now make his first spring training start on Feb. 28 at Oakland.
He’ll DH the first two ST games.
—Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 22, 2023
Spring training games will start in a couple of days, and Ohtani will be there to show his talent at the plate.
On February 28, he will get the ball for his first start of the year.
Then, on March 1, he will leave the Angels camp to fly and meet his Japanese teammates as they prepare for the Classic.
Japan has several big leaguers and local stars and look determined to return the title to Asia.
The WBC ends on March 21, and Ohtani will rejoin the Angels shortly after that in preparation for Opening Day, where he will be taking the ball and function as the starter.
It should be an exciting spring for the global star.
He is in his last season of team control, which means he will get a new contract, from the Angels or any other team, after the World Series.
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