Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani Apologizes For 'shortcomings' In Japan's Early Exit From Wbc

Dodgers prima Shohei Ohtani expressed regret Monday for his “shortcomings” pursuing Japan’s early exit from nan World Baseball Classic.

It is unclear what those shortcomings mightiness person been. Over 4 games during this year’s tournament, Ohtani led Japan pinch a .462 batting average, 3 location runs and 7 RBI successful 13 at-bats.

Those stats are moreover amended than nan ones he posted arsenic nan MVP of nan past WBC. Over 7 games successful 2023, Ohtani deed .435 pinch 1 location tally and 8 location runs successful 23 at-bats to lead Japan to its 3rd WBC championship.

Overall, however, Japan vanished pinch a .284 batting average, down from a .299 mean 3 years ago. Ohtani did relationship for his team’s last retired of nan 2026 tourney — an infield popup to seal an 8-5 quarterfinal nonaccomplishment to Venezuela connected Saturday — and took to Instagram 2 days later.

“Thank you to each nan fans for your support. Your cheers pushed america guardant each day,” Ohtani wrote successful Japanese. “We didn’t execute nan results we hoped for, and I profoundly regret my ain shortcomings.”

The two-way superstar did not transportation successful this year’s WBC, aft famously striking retired then-Angels teammate Mike Trout of nan United States for nan last retired of nan 2023 title crippled and going 2-0 pinch 1 prevention and a 1.86 ERA successful that tournament.

Ohtani had his 2nd Tommy John room successful September 2023 and did not transportation again until past June pinch nan Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts revealed successful January that Ohtani had decided not to transportation successful nan WBC.