Shohei Ohtani has been named the Most Valuable Player of Pool B at the World Baseball Classic, MLB reports. Ohtani has been representing Japan at the tournament.
Japan went 4-0 during pool play, easily securing a spot in the WBC quarter-finals. On Sunday, the team handed Australia its first loss winning the game 7-1. Ohtani scored a homerun in the first inning to get the team off and running.
According to the MLB, Ohtani went 6-for-12 at the plate during group play. He hit eight total RBIs. When he pitched during the team’s game against China, he allowed only one hit and struck out five players.
Ohtani and Japan will face Italy in the quarter-finals this Thursday. According to the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin said that Ohtani will then pitch for the Angels on March 24 in a spring training game.
“That’s what I’ve understood,” Nevin told the Orange County Register. “He’ll pitch the quarterfinal game, then he’d be available for us that Friday (March 24) when they come back, regardless of what happens. Friday was the day he wanted to throw to get ready for Oakland.”
Ohtani will then have five days of rest before he pitches for the Angels during their Major League Baseball opener against the Oakland As.
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