LOS ANGELES — Following the major shock at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made an important announcement regarding the pitching role of superstar Shohei Ohtani, the player with the largest $700 million contract in professional sports history.

Amidst the disappointing early exit of the Samurai Japan, the Dodgers quickly clarified their plans for their two-way star, emphasizing that Ohtani will not pitch in the WBC and will focus entirely on preparing for the MLB season with the team.

This announcement immediately became a hot topic in the global baseball community, as Ohtani has long been a rare icon of modern baseball: both an ace pitcher and a formidable slugger on the plate.

According to head coach Dave Roberts, Ohtani’s decision not to pitch at the World Baseball Classic was a carefully considered one.

The Dodgers wanted the Japanese superstar to focus on his physical preparation for the MLB season, rather than risking his arm in a high-intensity international tournament.

This means that at WBC 2026, Ohtani will only play as a designated hitter (DH) for the Japanese team, instead of as a pitcher as many fans had hoped.

For the Dodgers, this is not only a decision to protect the player’s health, but also a strategic move to ensure Ohtani can contribute maximally throughout the long MLB season.

WBC 2026 was expected to be the stage for Samurai Japan to continue asserting their strength after their 2023 championship. However, things have turned out completely differently.

The Japanese team was unexpectedly eliminated early after an 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the quarterfinals, in a game where their opponents staged an impressive comeback.

Although Ohtani still made his mark on the plate, this defeat was considered a major shock for a team that boasts many world-class stars.

After the game, Ohtani admitted his disappointment at the team’s early end to their journey, but he also emphasized that there would always be other opportunities in the future.

Every decision concerning Shohei Ohtani carries special weight, simply because his value to the Dodgers is immense.

In December 2023, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers — the largest contract in professional sports history at the time.

This massive investment is not only aimed at attracting global audiences and commercial value, but also places the expectation on Ohtani’s shoulders to become the centerpiece of a new Dodgers era.

As both hitter and pitcher, Ohtani can directly influence both fronts of the team—a rarity in modern MLB.

Ohtani has experienced several pitching arm issues in the past, including a UCL injury and surgery on Tommy John during his time with the Los Angeles Angels.

Therefore, the Dodgers are taking an extremely cautious approach to his recovery and mound use.

According to the team’s plan, Ohtani will gradually increase his pitching load during spring training, rather than focusing all his efforts on the World Baseball Classic.

This allows the Dodgers to better control the game schedule and ensures that when the MLB season begins, Ohtani can safely return to his pitching role.

Despite not pitching in the WBC, the Dodgers insist they still consider Ohtani a true two-way player.

The team’s goal is to bring him back to his role as a primary pitcher in the rotation, while continuing to be one of MLB’s most dangerous hitters.

That’s what makes Ohtani unique in modern baseball history.

Not many players can:

hit more than 30 home runs per season

and pitch at speeds exceeding 100 mph

But with Ohtani, that has almost become the norm.

The Dodgers are betting on the big season

After the shock of the WBC, the Dodgers want to quickly bring Ohtani back into the spotlight: the 2026 MLB season.

The Los Angeles team is aiming for a clear goal — to continue competing for the World Series title, and Ohtani is seen as the most important factor in that ambition.

If the Dodgers’ plan succeeds, fans could soon see Ohtani:

return to the mound as an ace

continue breaking striking records

and solidify his status as the greatest superstar in world baseball.

After all, the message from the Dodgers is clear:

Shohei Ohtani doesn’t need to prove anything at the World Baseball Classic. The most important thing is that he gets ready for the MLB season — where the true value of his $700 million contract will be shown.