Japan Wins World Baseball Classic

Japan Wins World Baseball Classic Again

By David A. Avila

A stacked Japanese team showed its might despite stubborn resistance from the United States and Mexico and won its third World Baseball Classic in Miami.

Shohei Ohtani proved to be the difference.

Whether it was hitting, running the bases or throwing the last pitch to strike out Mike Trout with a perfect slider to win 3-2, the almost super-human performance by Ohtani showed he indeed is the greatest baseball player on Earth on Tuesday.

Japan entered the tournament two weeks ago with virtually every one of its stars in the talented Japanese professional baseball league. It also boasted a pitching staff second to none that included young phenom Roki Sasaki who fires 102 mph fastballs on a regular basis to Yu Darvish a veteran of more than a decade of Major League Baseball.

Hitting-wise Japan showed off its power behind young slugger Munetaka Murakami who did not hit particularly well until the moment was needed. The 23-year-old power hitter blasted a two-run double to overtake Mexico in the semi-final game on Monday, then crushed a solo homer against the USA to help Japan win the championship final.

But the true difference maker was Ohtani, the two-way player who single-handedly willed his team to victory with a lead off double against Mexico on Monday and scored on Murakami’s double. Then on Tuesday, he walked in from the bullpen to strike out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Trout with a perfectly placed slider for the final out of the championship game.

What a finish.

Two weeks ago the tournament began with 20 teams from all over the world and ended with Japan beating USA which had destroyed Cuba two days earlier 14-2 in the semi-final.

Nods should be given to all of the countries participating.

Mexico proved to be stubbornly good and boasted a pitching staff among the best behind Patrick Sandoval, Julio Urias and others.

Puerto Rico also gave a tremendous effort and sadly, lost top reliever Edwin Diaz to injury during celebration. The Met’s closer will be lost for the season.

The USA which had won in 2017, boasted its strongest lineup yet but was unable to lure any of its top pitchers to the team. The best hitter of the American team proved to be shortstop Trea Turner who belted five homers to lead the tournament. He hit another on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Japan.

Ohtani won the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and rightfully so.

USA manager Mark De La Rosa said it best.

“He’s a unicorn to the sport,” De La Rosa said of Japan’s extraordinary Ohtani.