Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Interested in Being a Closer in the World Baseball Classic

Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani could see himself pitching in the World Baseball Classic, but not in the role you're used to seeing him in.
Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Interested in Being a Closer in the World Baseball Classic
Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Interested in Being a Closer in the World Baseball Classic /
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A grand stage like the World Baseball Classic brings together some of baseball's best players from all over the world to play for their respective countries. With that in mind, it was no doubt Shohei Ohtani would have his name called upon to hopefully compete for his home country of Japan. 

Ohtani is interested in competing, but also mentioned he's more open to doing so in closer role when speaking to reporters in Japan's airport. In order for Ohtani to pitch as a starter, Ohtani would seriously have to ramp up his workload. 

"If you’re going to pitch as a starter [in the WBC], you’d have to be built up to 60, 70 pitches. So you have to take that into account," Ohtani said. "But if they say you don’t have to start, there’s no reason to move up anything."

Playing as a reliever will decide how much of the off-season training will have to be changed for Ohtani. However, Ohtani is a true professional of the game and should be able to accommodate himself accordingly. 

"If I’m a middle reliever or closer, there’s no need to speed up anything. That being said, if I’m going to be a starter," Ohtani said, I’ll have to start up early."

It remains to be seen whether or not Ohtani will play in the World Baseball Classic, and in what capacity. But if there is anything certain about Ohtani' comments, it's that he will always put his team first. 


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Ryan Menzie
RYAN MENZIE

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Shohei Ohtani  Favorite Moment: Shohei Ohtani Unanimous MVP. Can't think of a player more than deserving, besides Mike Trout of course. Ohtani truly has changed the landscape of the game and defines what a true two-way player is in todays game.