A look ahead to the 2026 World Baseball Classic, highlighting key dates, the tournament format, host cities, and major storylines. Includes a recap of Japan's dominant performance against Taiwan, featuring Ohtani's impressive hitting, and a preview of Team USA's star-studded roster.
A preview of the 2026 World Baseball Classic , including key dates, format, host cities, and the biggest storylines as the world’s best players compete in baseball’s biggest international tournament. Ohtani hit a grand slam in the second inning — in the first he doubled on the first pitch of the game but didn’t score — as Japan hammered Taiwan 13-0 in Pool C at the Japan , batting first as the designated visiting team, put the first three runners on base — a walk, a single and a hit-by-pitch.
Kenya Wakatsuki fouled out to the catcher, bringing up Ohtani for the dramatic slam to right field off starter Hao-Chun Cheng.Japan added six more runs in the inning, which lasted 28 minutes. Reliever Chih-Wei Hu finished the inning, but not before Japan batted around and Ohtani got his third hit of the game — a single — and his fifth RBI in the inning.Japan scored three more in the third, this time off the third pitcher, Tzu-Chen Sha, to push the lead to 13-0.After long rests between innings, Yamamoto got into trouble in the third, walking two and loading the bases with the help of an error. He was replaced by Shoma Fujihira who struck out An-Ko Lin to end the threat.Ohtani led off the fourth and lined out on a leaping catch by first baseman Nien-Ting Wu as he tried for the cycle — a single, double, triple and a home run. He needed a triple to complete the cycle, and the leaping catch might have prevented it.and the favorite from Pool C to reach the quarterfinals. Japan is also a favorite to reach the final in Miami on March 17, perhaps against theTeam USA is bringing a loaded roster to the 2026 World Baseball Classic, featuring some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball. Here’s a look at the superstars set to represent the United States.
World Baseball Classic Baseball Ohtani Japan Team USA
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Webb, Lee, Ramos headline SF Giants participating in the 2026 World Baseball ClassicLogan Webb, Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee are among the Giants participating in this year’s WBC
Read more »
2026 World Baseball Classic Team Power RankingsRanking the rosters at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The United States, Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela are among the favorites.
Read more »
2026 World Baseball Classic preview: Pool play breakdowns, predictions, moreFresh off the heels of a superb Winter Olympics in which the NHL's stars dazzled in the men's hockey tournament, Major League Baseball's elite international
Read more »
These Yankees and Mets are playing in the 2026 World Baseball ClassicMore than two dozen Mets and Yankees are representing their countries in the World Baseball Classic, including two national captains.
Read more »
Five Bold Predictions for the 2026 World Baseball ClassicSeveral countries will bring their best rosters ever to this edition, which could upend the typical hierarchy.
Read more »
Bettors loving Team USA ahead of 2026 World Baseball Classic openerMoney is flowing Team USA’s way ahead of their 2026 World Baseball Classic opener against Brazil on Friday.
Read more »