Shohei Ohtani Responds to WBC Criticisms Following Elimination
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani issued a statement about online abuse he has received following Team Japan’s WBC exit. “Personally, I don’t really mind being told that sort of thing,” Ohtani said . “However, when it comes to denying someone’s character or that kind of stuff, it’s completely unrelated to baseball, so I do think it’s tough.
As a pro, when the results are bad, I have the mindset to accept whatever is said about me personally. But not every player is necessarily that way, and treating people with consideration is something that doesn’t change no matter where you are. So, I think it depends on that.
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com/5HvoJ53Gh9 — Masaya Kotani (@MasayaKotani) March 18, 2026 Ohtani and Team Japan lost in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals against Team Venezuela, who beat Team USA in the championship game to win their first WBC title. The reigning MVP had a fantastic tournament , hitting three home runs and tallying seven RBIs across four games. He had a 1.