By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Eric Espada/Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani sets the tone for Team Japan after going 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs, including a grand slam, in a dominant 13-0 victory over Chinese Taipei.
Team Japan scored 10 runs in the second inning. Ohtani launched a grand slam to right field in that same inning, and all of his five RBIs came there. Sosuke Genda went 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs. Japan’s offense went 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2023.
Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the win after tossing two innings, two strikeouts, walking three batters, and allowing no runs. Japan used five pitchers and combined for eight strikeouts.
Japan will play Team Korea on Saturday at 5 am EST. Young Pyo Ko will take the mound for Japan against the 34-year-old Yusei Kikuchi for Korea.
Ohtani continues to put on a show. He’s one of the best in the game. It’s not easy to pitch to a guy like Ohtani.
Ohtani finished the 2025 season hitting .282 with 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 172 hits, earning his fourth MVP in the big leagues. After the WBC, Ohtani and the Dodgers are looking to go for a three-peat and for him to secure another NL MVP award.
Ohtani has been on a mission since making his MLB debut in 2021. Here are his numbers since his emergence:
- 2025 (LAD):Â .282 AVG | 55 HR | 102 RBIs | 20 SB | 1.014 OPS
- 2024 (LAD):Â .310 AVG | 54 HR | 130 RBIs | 59 SB | 1.036 OPS
- 2023 (LAA):Â .304 AVG | 44 HR | 95 RBIs | 20 SB | 1.066 OPS
- 2022 (LAA):Â .273 AVG | 34 HR | 95 RBIs | 11 SB | .875 OPS
- 2021 (LAA):Â .257 AVG | 46 HR | 100 RBIs | 26 SB | .965 OPS
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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