Shohei Ohtani Hits 420-Foot Homer From One Knee in WBC Tune-Up

The Angels star hit an impressive home run while preparing for the World Baseball Classic

Angels do-it-all star Shohei Ohtani is one of myriad major leaguers preparing for the upcoming World Baseball Classic instead of working out at his team’s spring training camp.

Ohtani, who will compete in the WBC for his native Japan, played in an exhibition on Monday for Team Japan against the Hanshin Tigers. In the third inning, Ohtani blasted a 420-foot, three-run homer to left field—from one leg.

It was one of two home runs on the day for the Angels star, who later hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

Here’s the video of the home run that’s capturing headlines.

Shohei Ohtani dropped to one knee and hit a ball 420 feet https://t.co/pONg5XA80Q

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 6, 2023

And here’s the video of the second home run that didn’t come with the knee drop but was still blasted to right center field.

Ohtani finished the game with six RBIs for Team Japan. As for Ohtani, he appears to be in midseason form with the MLB season set to begin later this month.

WBC play begins Wednesday. Team Japan opens WBC play against China on Thursday at 5 a.m. ET in Tokyo.