Shohei Ohtani, the 31-year-old star of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has returned to Japan to participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) as part of the national team, Samurai Japan. In the previous tournament, he made headlines by competing as a two-way player, contributing significantly to Japan's victory. This year, aiming for a consecutive championship, Ohtani has decided to solely focus on his role as a designated hitter during the competition.

Before his return, Ohtani assessed his batting condition, stating that it felt similar to previous years, with a slight delay in adjusting to fast pitches. He emphasized that waiting to get into rhythm may ultimately benefit his performance in the long run. Alongside Ohtani, other major league players like Seiya Suzuki and Masataka Yoshida joined the team shortly before the tournament and participated in the team’s training session on the 26th.

As Samurai Japan gears up for their first pre-tournament games against Chunichi on the 27th and 28th, it is worth noting that, according to MLB regulations, active major league players will not be able to participate in these exhibition matches. This decision underscores the tension between international competition and the commitments players have to their respective MLB teams, raising questions about the balance between national pride and professional obligations in sports.