Nov. 25 (UPI) — MLB phenom Shohei Ohtani once again will lead Japan at the World Baseball Classic, while attempting to secure a second consecutive championship.<\/p>\n
“Thank you to all the fans for another great season,” Ohtani wrote Monday<\/a> on his social media platforms. “I’ll train hard and look forward to seeing you all next year. Happy to play and represent Japan again.”\n<\/p>\n Ohtani hit .435 (10 for 23) with four doubles, a home run and an RBI to help Japan win the title while earning 2023 World Baseball Classic MVP honors. He also went 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in three mound appearances.<\/p>\n Japan went 4-0 in pool play, with 38 runs scored and eight runs allowed, before respective quarterfinal and semifinal wins over Italy and Mexico.<\/p>\n Ohtani helped lead the Japanese over the United States in the title game, which ended with him striking out former teammate Mike Trout<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Ohtani, who returned to the mound this year after a pitching hiatus of nearly two years, did not say if he plans to pitch for Japan. The two-way superstar went 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA over 14 starts this season for the Los Angeles Dodgers.<\/p>\n He also hit .282 with a career-high 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, a league-high 146 runs scored, 25 doubles and nine triples en route to his fourth MVP Award, while helping the Dodgers win a second-consecutive World Series.<\/p>\n The 2026 World Baseball Classic will be held from March 5 to March 17. Japan will start play March 6 at Tokyo Dome.<\/p>\n In addition to Tokyo, games will be played be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston; and Miami. The semifinals and championship game will be held at loanDepot park in Miami, the home stadium for the Miami Marlins.<\/p>\n Aaron Judge<\/a>, Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt<\/a> Jr., Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong are among the players committed to Team USA for the tournament.<\/p>\n \t\t\t