Shohei Ohtani Strikes Out Mike Trout, Japan Wins World Baseball Classic

Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout are two of the best baseball players in the world—some say THE best. Normally, they are teammates on the Los Angeles Angels, but this month they were on opposing teams in the World Baseball Classic, an international tournament that has been held five times since the first one in 2006, and will be held again in 2026.

The championship game of this year’s tournament was held in Miami and featured undefeated Japan against the defending champion United States. Japan was looking for its third WBC title. Japan led 3-2 going into the ninth inning, and Ohtani, who had been Japan’s DH, came into pitch to try and close it out. He walked Jeff McNeil, but Mookie Betts grounded into a double play. That set the stage for the Trout-Ohtani at bat.

After five pitches, the count stood 3-2, with each strike being a swinging strike. Pitch number six was a slider on the outside corner, and another swing and a miss. Trout went down swinging, and Japan was the champion once again.