NAGOYA, Japan – Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar, reaffirmed his singular focus on winning as the Japanese national team began preparations for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Thursday. Ohtani, joining teammates in Nagoya, swiftly dismissed a playful suggestion from fellow outfielder Seiya Suzuki regarding a team dinner, emphasizing the paramount importance of victory over social engagements.
Ohtani, along with Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs and Masataka Yoshida of the Boston Red Sox, reported to training at the Vantelin Dome. Ohtani participated in light warm-up exercises, including catch and indoor batting, to acclimate to the time difference after his arrival from the United States, according to reports from Japanese media outlet Sponichi Annex.
The exchange occurred during a press conference following the training session. Suzuki, referencing a tradition established by Yu Darvish during the previous WBC, jokingly proposed that Ohtani, given his recent lucrative contract with the Dodgers, should cover the cost of a team dinner. He alluded to a potential expense of 100 billion yen (approximately $917.3 billion won). Suzuki further suggested Ohtani would “definitely be treated well” in return.
Ohtani’s response was direct. “First of all, winning is the most important thing,” he stated. “We didn’t come here to eat delicious food. We came here to play baseball. I think the first thing to do is to focus on the goal of winning and do our best.”
Suzuki immediately apologized following Ohtani’s firm reply, prompting laughter from those present. The incident, whereas lighthearted, underscored Ohtani’s unwavering commitment to the team’s objective.
Notably, Ohtani will not be pitching for Japan in the WBC, a decision he described as “just seemed like the right decision,” according to the Los Angeles Times. This allows him to focus solely on his hitting as he continues to recover from a recent injury.
The Japanese team is currently welcoming the influx of major league players as they build towards their title defense in March. Ohtani’s early display of focused determination signals his intent to lead the team to another championship.
