We’ve just learned something new about Ohtani heading into the WBC
As the WBC comes rattling closer, we’ve just learned about Ohtani’s potential role for his side.
As the offseason rolls on and the 2026 World Baseball Classic rolls in, Shohei Ohtani remains the headline act, but the role he may play has just become clearer.
Dave Roberts, skipper of the Los Angeles Dodgers, revealed in recent media sessions that the club’s current guidance for Ohtani suggests he should primarily serve as a hitter for his national side, rather than taking the mound.
While this may seem counterproductive for a Japan side that aspire to win tournament gold, Ohtani’s unique status as a two-way player and the gruelling toll of a marathon 2025 season (which concluded with another championship) makes managing his workload a balancing act for all involved.
“I’m hoping he doesn’t [pitch] but I don’t know. Shohei is very in tune with his body,” Roberts said on Monday at baseball’s winter meetings. “The thought is he’s probably just going to hit.”
Dave Roberts is hoping Shohei Ohtani doesn’t pitch in the 2026 World Baseball Classic but hasn’t talked to him about it yet:
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 8, 2025
“Shohei is very in tune with his body. The thought is he’s probably just going to hit.” pic.twitter.com/cV5Qn85inW
“I would like to think that it’s going to be a dialogue”
“I would like to think that it’s going to be a dialogue as far as restrictions and limitations, in the sense of just trying to give them the opportunity,” he also revealed, most probably a line aimed at Japan’s coaching setup. “They’ve come off some stuff, some long seasons, and certainly with Yamamoto and looking out for 2026. But right now there’s no more clarity than we had before.”
Ultimately, at the heart of Roberts’s cautious stance is a serious concern over fitness and overuse. Ohtani returned to the mound in 2025 after a previous injury, producing strong numbers in 14 starts (2.87 ERA, 62 strikeouts, 47 innings) while also slugging 55 home runs. Managing these numbers while keeping him fit is tightrope walking at its finest. Holding three snakes in each hand. On fire.
The compressed timeline between the MLB season’s end and the WBC’s start means pitching again for Japan could increase injury risk. “I don’t want to be dismissive of what it means to them representing their country,” Roberts added. “I know the organisation doesn’t but I do think that the conversations need to be had, will be had, as far as what each individual is taking on and whatever role that they might be taking on and what potential costs there might be. ... But you can’t debate the emotion, what a player might feel of this potential opportunity.”
Top Plays of 2025: No. 3
— MLB (@MLB) December 8, 2025
After striking out 10 in 6 innings of shutout ball, Shohei Ohtani hits his THIRD homer of the game to top off one of the best Postseason performances ever! pic.twitter.com/jXYp4adXY4
For Team Japan and its fans, this news carries major weight. Having the hitting prowess of Ohtani in the lineup, even without his pitching arm, remains a formidable asset. But the team’s chances to repeat as WBC champions may hinge on whether they can balance tournament nerves with a cool head.
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