Shohei Ohtani commits to defending Japan’s WBC title – what about Yamamoto and Sasaki?
With the sixth World Baseball Classic (WBC) scheduled for March 2026, the future of three Los Angeles Dodgers stars – Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki – has already become a major talking point in both Japan and the United States.
Ohtani has made it clear on his own Instagram account that he is “happy to be able to play for Japan once again”, formally announcing that he will represent Samurai Japan at the 2026 WBC. Yamamoto and Sasaki, however, have yet to make a final decision, and the Dodgers’ stance has been described as “respecting the players’ wish to participate, but being cautious about them taking the mound.”
Ohtani is “definitely in” – but his pitching role remains undecided
In late November, Ohtani posted on social media that he intends to take part in the 2026 WBC as a member of Samurai Japan. The announcement was picked up by overseas media and MLB.com as major news, with many outlets calling him “the key to Japan’s back-to-back title bid”.
However, given that his full-scale return from right elbow surgery in 2024 is still relatively recent, his role as a two-way player is currently undecided. Many American commentators are predicting that he will likely appear only as a hitter.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament name | 2026 World Baseball Classic (6th edition) |
| Dates | 5–17 March 2026 |
| Venues | Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Miami |
| Japan | Defending champions from 2023, three WBC titles overall |
| Shohei Ohtani | Has officially declared his intention to play in 2026 (usage as pitcher vs. hitter still undecided). |
At the 2023 tournament, Ohtani struck out his then-Angels teammate Mike Trout in the final against the United States and led Japan to a third WBC crown. At the plate he hit .435 with an OPS of 1.345, earning the tournament MVP. That performance is why his participation alone is being described as a game-changer for Japan’s chances of defending the title.
Yamamoto and Sasaki: “open to participating” but still no final call
For Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, both also under contract with the Dodgers, several Japanese and American media reports have described their status as “possible participants, but undecided for now”.
Yamamoto said in an interview that he wants to “do his best to earn a place on the national team” but will “make a careful decision while thinking about his own body and the regular season”. In Sasaki’s case, his long injury layoff during the 2025 season is a concern, and some reports note that the Dodgers could exercise their right to restrict WBC participation for pitchers with a recent injury history.
Status of the three Dodgers stars – quick overview
| Player | Club | 2026 WBC status | Pitching role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers | Has publicly committed to playing. | Highly likely to appear as a hitter. Whether he will pitch as a starter or reliever remains undecided due to his elbow. |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Los Angeles Dodgers | Positive about “aiming for the national team”, but the final decision is yet to come; the club is wary of the impact on the MLB season. | Participation may come with strict pitch limits and spacing between outings. |
| Roki Sasaki | Los Angeles Dodgers | Because of injuries in 2025, even his basic participation is unclear; some reports say the club may block his involvement. | Scenarios such as “no pitching” or “not participating at all” are being discussed. |
The Dodgers’ real stance: fine with playing, hesitant about pitching?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said in media appearances in Japan that “the final decision belongs to the players themselves, but we want them to be in the best possible condition for the season”. Outwardly, the club is taking a stance of “respecting the players’ wishes”.
At the same time, some US outlets have reported that “the Dodgers would prefer all three not to pitch at the WBC” and that in Sasaki’s case they may even try to block participation altogether. Analysts also point out that for Ohtani, the club’s true preference may be “to allow him to bat while avoiding any pitching workload”.
Tournament format – and Samurai Japan’s position
The 2026 WBC will again feature 20 teams. Japan is scheduled to play its first-round games (Pool C) at Tokyo Dome, one of the host venues alongside Houston, San Juan and Miami.
| Tournament | Year | Host cities | Japan’s result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st WBC | 2006 | USA, others | Champions |
| 2nd WBC | 2009 | USA, others | Champions |
| 3rd WBC | 2013 | USA, others | Semi-finals |
| 4th WBC | 2017 | USA, others | Semi-finals |
| 5th WBC | 2023 | Tokyo, Miami | Champions (third title) |
| 6th WBC | 2026 | Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Miami | Japan aiming to defend its title |
The planned schedule is:
- 5–10 March: first-round pool play at various venues
- 13–14 March: quarterfinals in Houston and Miami
- 15–17 March: semifinals and final in Miami
One of the biggest concerns for MLB clubs is that the WBC final will be played only about one week to ten days before Opening Day, increasing the risk that key pitchers arrive at the regular season fatigued or injured.
How X and YouTube reacted to Ohtani’s decision
On social media, reactions were immediate. FOX Sports and other major outlets treated Ohtani’s announcement as breaking news, while Dodgers-focused accounts highlighted the delicate balance between his desire to represent Japan and the club’s wish to protect its rotation.
“Shohei Ohtani announced he will represent Samurai Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.”
Dodgers Nation also shared quotes from Dave Roberts making it clear that he had hoped Ohtani, Sasaki and Yamamoto would skip the tournament, but acknowledged that Ohtani has already made up his mind.
Column: Who does the WBC really belong to – the national teams or the clubs?
Discussions around the WBC always revolve around the tension between “the pride of representing your country” and “the rational interests of MLB clubs as businesses”.
- Is it acceptable to fully use a superstar worth hundreds of millions of dollars in a short, intense tournament right before the regular season?
- At the same time, how many chances does a player get in his career to wear his country’s colours on a global stage?
- Fans dream of heroic performances at the WBC but also fear injuries that could affect the long MLB season.
With Ohtani’s commitment, Samurai Japan has secured an anchor in both the lineup and the clubhouse. But depending on what Yamamoto, Sasaki and other stars such as Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto – whose potential MLB moves are widely rumoured – eventually decide, Japan’s title defense campaign might have to begin with several core players missing.
In the end, there is no single “correct” answer. MLB clubs that are responsible for a 162-game season, players who shoulder the hopes of a nation, and fans watching every pitch on television all approach the WBC from different perspectives.
Now that Ohtani has said “I’m in”, the next question is who will join him on the Tokyo Dome field in March 2026. Waiting for that answer – and debating what is fair to clubs, players and national teams – is itself part of how we enjoy the WBC as fans.
