‘Baseball Genius’ Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) will take 메이저사이트 the mound in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). In order to pitch in the opening game of the major leagues, he will not pitch in games after the WBC semifinals.
On the 12th (Korean time), according to MLB.com, the official homepage of Major League Baseball, Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin said, “Ohtani is scheduled to pitch in the WBC quarterfinals,” and “there is no possibility of appearing in the semifinals or finals.”
After finishing the quarterfinals, he plans to play in the WBC only as a hitter.
Coach Nevin mentioned Ohtani’s pitching schedule, which is participating in the 2023 WBC as a member of the Japanese baseball team, because of the “opening day mound.”
Coach Nevin picked Ohtani early as the starting pitcher for the opening game against the Oakland Athletics, which will be held on the 31st.
Ohtani is participating in the WBC with Japan’s national team, but she needs to get fit for the opening day.
The Angels plan to put Ohtani on the shelf mound in an exhibition game against the San Diego Padres on the 25th for a final check. Then, on the 31st, it will be held in Auckland on Opening Day.
Considering this, Ohtani will not be on the mound after the 2023 WBC quarterfinals. The quarterfinals will be held on the 15th or 16th. If you pass the quarterfinals, the semifinals will be held on the 20th or 21st. The final is on the 22nd.
“Ohtani wanted to play against San Diego on the 25th to prepare for Opening Day,” said coach Nevin.
On the other hand, Ohtani, who is considered the best star in the major leagues, is showing an overwhelming presence throughout the pitching in this WBC.
On the 9th, he came out as a starting pitcher and hitter in the first round of Group B against China in the WBC round 1, and as a pitcher, he showed a powerful pitch with 4 innings, 1 hit and 5 strikeouts, leading the team to the first victory of the tournament.
He is also active as a hitter, going 5 hits in 10 at-bats (0.500 batting average), 5 walks and 4 RBIs in 3 games.
Following Ohtani’s ‘one-man show’ against China, Japan has kept its lead in Group B by catching Korea and the Czech Republic in succession. Advancement to the quarterfinals is very likely.