Shohei Ohtani is now officially part of Team Japan as they gear up for their attempt to secure their second consecutive World Baseball Classic title.
The star from the Dodgers joined his fellow Japanese players at Vantelin Dome Nagoya on Thursday, just after traveling from Los Angeles to spring training in Arizona.
Even though Ohtani is not expected to pitch in the upcoming tournament starting next week, he was seen warming up in the outfield.
Dressed in a blue and red jersey with the number 16, he appeared relaxed and was enjoying time with his teammates on the field.
Alongside Ohtani, the Japanese roster features notable players like Masanao Yoshida from the Red Sox and Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs, making them strong contenders for the WBC title.
On the pitching side, the team will include Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto as well as left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Angels.
The Japanese squad, which triumphed over the United States to claim the 2023 WBC title, is set to kick off this year’s tournament on March 6 in Tokyo against Chinese Taipei.
Meanwhile, Team USA, which includes Ohtani’s friends Clayton Kershaw and Will Smith, will start its WBC journey on the same day against Brazil in Houston.
