OSAKA, JAPAN – MARCH 06: Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani #16 of Japan celebrates hitting a three run home run in the third inning during the World Baseball Classic exhibition game between Japan and Hanshin Tigers at Kyocera Dome Osaka on March 6, 2023 in Osaka, Japan. Yankees, Jordan Walker spring training stats, NY Mets, MLB news (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani’s powerful WBC tuneup, Jordan Walker’s spring training stats mean nothing thanks to Kodai Senga, and Carlos Rodon’s rough Yankees debut.
For those lucky enough to be in attendance, Ohtani put on a show in Japan’s World Baseball Classic tuneup against the Hanshin Tigers. Ohtani is the biggest star in a tournament full of them, and when Japan makes its WBC debut in the coming weeks, he’ll be expected to produce for his home country.
Shohei Ohtani ripped two home runs against Hanshin, including one from his knee. They were both three-run bombs.
The forever-humble Ohtani could only focus on his strikeout after the game.
“As my physical condition isn’t 100% because of jetlag, I feel a bit worried about missing a pitch over the plate,” Ohtani said. “Still, I was able to get a good swing on a split.”
Shohei Ohtani puts on WBC show
He did not miss many pitches over the plate, that much is certain. And yes, that one home run came off one knee. Some were quick to point to the same swing typically pulled off by future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre.
Ohtani celebrated his home run with a pepper grinder celebration, which Lars Nootbaar taught him before the game.
“We wanted that we wanted a little hit celebration, something to go,” Nootbaar said. “We didn’t really know what to come up with. And so he said, whatever I go out there and do first that’s what we’re gonna roll with. So, I went out [and got a hit] in the first inning, we got the pepper grinder out there. And you know, we kind of stuck with it.”
Ohtani is set to take the mound on Thursday against China at 5 a.m. ET sharp. Set your alarm.