Eric Gagne Highlights the Importance of the World Baseball Classic

For Eric Gagne, participating in the World Baseball Classic is a gamble that’s worth taking.

This former Dodgers closer expressed to the Post his hope that Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki will pitch for Japan in March, despite concerns about the wear on their arms after a busy 2025 season.

Gagne, a three-time All-Star, explained his stance simply: “Baseball needs that.”

“It’s going to be fun for the fans,” added the 2003 National League Cy Young Award recipient. “It’s enjoyable for everyone. We want to see the best players globally compete and represent their nations.”

Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki played pivotal roles in leading Japan to victory in the 2023 tournament, triumphing over the United States. While returning for the 2026 event seems like a given, some, including Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, suggest that resting these key players might be wiser given their substantial contributions to the team’s consecutive World Series victories.

Regardless, Gagne argues that having the players show up would be “very good for the game.”

Having experienced the event himself, Gagne missed out during his prime years due to injuries and contract issues but returned from retirement to represent Canada in 2017. He called it “the best experience of my baseball career.”

“There’s really nothing like representing your country on the world stage,” he reflected.

The WBC pool play starts on March 5, with Japan’s first game on March 6. Currently, Ohtani is the only Japanese Dodgers player expected to participate, but Gagne anticipates that others will join him.

“There’s more risk, but every time you step on the field, there’s risk,” he pointed out. “I think the benefits outweigh the risks.”