"Over four games during this year's tournament, Ohtani led Japan with a .462 batting average, three home runs and seven RBI in 13 at-bats. Those stats are even better than the ones he posted as the MVP of the last WBC. Over seven games in 2023, Ohtani hit .435 with one home run and eight home runs in 23 at-bats to lead Japan to its third WBC championship."
"Thank you to all the fans for your support. Your cheers pushed us forward every day. We didn't achieve the results we hoped for, and I deeply regret my own shortcomings."
"Overall, however, Japan finished with a .284 batting average, down from a .299 average three years ago. Ohtani did account for his team's final out of the 2026 tournament - an infield popup to seal an 8-5 quarterfinal loss to Venezuela on Saturday."
Shohei Ohtani expressed regret for his shortcomings after Japan exited the World Baseball Classic in the quarterfinal round, losing 8-5 to Venezuela. However, Ohtani's individual performance was strong, posting a .462 batting average with three home runs and seven RBI over four games, surpassing his 2023 tournament statistics. Japan's overall team batting average declined to .284 from .299 three years prior. Ohtani made Japan's final out with an infield popup. The two-way star did not pitch in this year's tournament following Tommy John surgery in September 2023, focusing solely on his hitting duties.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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