Ohtani Shohei + World Baseball Classic = March madness in Japan

There’s a buzz in Japan this winter that hasn’t been around in years.

That buzz is Ohtani Shohei.

The Japanese public is finally getting what it’s been waiting six years for - Ohtani in a national team jersey, at the World Baseball Classic.

And the two-way Los Angeles Angels superstar is more than willing to oblige.

"I’m only thinking about a championship. I’m only thinking about winning", Ohtani said at the 6 January unveiling of the first dozen players to be named to the Samurai Japan for the 8-21 March WBC, portions of which will be held in Tokyo.

"I couldn’t play last time and this will be my first WBC. I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to go to work.

"As I said before, winning is what matters. I’m just glad to be considered as part of this team and I want to come through.

"I haven’t played in Japan in a while so that’s also something I’m looking forward to as well."

The feeling is mutual. Ohtani is Japan’s golden boy, the man who can do no wrong and walks on water.

The 1.93-metre freak of an athlete says the right things, does the right things and he’s got the looks to go along with a boyish sense of humour and personality. All men were not created equal.

This on top of what Ohtani does on the field, which is nothing short of superhuman.

Entering the prime of his career, the 28-year-old already has one American League MVP (2021) and was a finalist last season, when some felt he had an even better campaign than the year he won the honour.

In 2022, Ohtani continued to put up fantasy baseball numbers. On the mound, he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts - all in the AL top 10.

At the plate, he mashed 34 home runs and drove in 95 runs while batting .273 and scoring 90 runs (and chipping in 11 stolen bases) on a not-so-great Angels team that finished 33 games out of first place.

It indeed took a near Triple Crown season from New York Yankee slugger Aaron Judge - who set a new AL record of 62 home runs - to deny Ohtani a second consecutive MVP.

He became the first player in history to qualify for the league leaderboards as both a pitcher and hitter in the same year. Move over Captain James T. Kirk, Ohtani is the one going where no man has gone before.

A sponsor’s dream, he is projected by many in the industry to net a contract worth $500 million as a free agent next off-season, unprecedented in Major League Baseball. That’s half-a-billion dollars.

So Japan has every reason to be excited as its prodigal son suits up for the WBC, which is being held for the first time since 2017 due to the global pandemic. Japan won the first two editions in 2006 and 2009, leading to the explosive popularity of the competition.

As a child falling in love with the game, Ohtani was glued to the set as the likes of Ichiro and Matsuzaka Daisuke helped their country to the championship.

Now it’s Ohtani’s turn to inspire, to lead - to win. The best player in all of baseball doesn’t care if he hits or pitches or does both.

Ohtani just wants to win, and Japan will happily take that. An entire nation sits tight as the curtains on 'Sho-Time back in Japan' are about to go up.

"It’s been one of my dreams to play on this stage," he said. “As soon as I was asked I was up for it. I couldn’t play last time because I was hurt so I want to even more.

"Ever since I took up baseball, I’ve never settled for second place. I’ve never thought losing was acceptable. It’s only natural to want to win at a competition that I’ve been targeting all long.

"I’m not one to lead by words. I’ll just make sure to do what’s expected of me. But at the same time, the players on this team don’t need to be told what to do.

"A good team is made up of players who understand their roles. It’s important for each and every player to do his job.

"I’ll do whatever is asked of me. As a player, I’m not in control of who does what. I’m just going to do the best I can, whatever it is."