MVP Ohtani swept all-star pitchers and designated hitters by WBC position
Japan’s pitching double-job ‘baseball genius’ Shohei Otani (LA Angels), who was selected as the MVP for showing ‘cartoon baseball’ at the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), pitched in All-Star by position, Won the designated hitter category.
After Japan defeated the United States 3-2 in the 2023 WBC final and won the championship, the WBC Organizing Committee selected and revealed the best player by position in this tournament.
Ohtani was named the best pitcher and designated hitter.
Ohtani, who continues to double as a pitcher in the Major League (MLB), declared that he would show off a double line of pitching in this tournament, saying, “My style is not only hitting but also pitching.”
Ohtani appeared in 7 games as a hitter in this tournament and posted a batting average of 0.435 (10 hits in 23 at-bats), 1 home run, 8 RBIs, 10 walks and 9 runs.
He pitched in three games as a pitcher, going 2-0, 1 save, with an earned run average of 1.86 (2 runs allowed in 9⅔ innings), with 11 strikeouts.
In the final match against the United States, he took the mound as Japan’s closer in the top of the 9th inning, leading 3-2, and ended the first inning with a three-way exit, deciding Japan’s third championship. The scene where he struck out Mike Trout (Angels), his teammate and one of the best hitters in MLB, with a swing and strikeout in the top of the 9th inning without two out runners was truly a drama.
Ohtani not only played the role of the dugout leader of the Japanese baseball team, but also captured the hearts of baseball fans around the world with his mature personality.
Mexican left-hander Patrick Sandoval (Angels) and Cuban bullpen pitcher Miguel Romero (Oakland Athletics) were also selected as the best pitchers.
Sandoval started in two games and went 1-0 with an ERA of 1.23. Romero threw 8⅔ innings in 5 games, striking out 13, and pitched well with a 2-0, 2.08 ERA.
Sandoval Pérez (Kansas City Royals) of Venezuela, who posted a batting average of 0.429, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs in 4 games, was selected as the best catcher, Trout (center fielder), Mexico’s Randy Arosarena (left fielder, Tampa Bay Rays), and Masataka Yoshida (right fielder) Boston Red Sox) named best outfielder.
After completing the 2022 season, Yoshida, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract through the posting system, made a good impression by swinging a hard hit with a batting average of 0.409, 2 home runs and 13 RBIs in the WBC before his big league debut. His 13 RBIs is a new record for the most RBIs in a single tournament in WBC history.
American Trey Turner (Philadelphia Phillies), who tied the record for the most home runs (five) in a WBC single tournament set by Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop in 2006, was included in the All-Star shortstop.
Puerto Rico second baseman Javier Baez (Detroit Tigers) and Cuban third baseman Yoan Moncada (Chicago White Sox) were also recognized as the best players of the tournament. 토토사이트
Zhang Yuzheng of Taiwan was selected as the best first baseman. Jang Wi-jeong, who has experience in MLB, performed outstandingly with a batting average of 0.438, 2 home runs and 8 RBIs in 4 games in this tournament.
Meanwhile, in Korea, not a single player was selected.