Ohtani vs Trout: Japan phenom trumps USA maestro in WBC final inning drama

In a dramatic ninth inning at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final, Japan's Shohei Ohtani outshone his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to seal his country's unprecedented third title in the event's history. This victory marked yet another milestone in Ohtani's already impressive resume as he proved his ability as a two-way player at the highest level of baseball.

Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout: Shohei Ohtani’s WBC final performance

Shohei Ohtani had already been a standout performer for Japan throughout the tournament, showcasing his skills as a hitter and pitcher with impressive stats. He started the final as a designated hitter, going 1-for-3 with a run and a walk at the plate. However, it was his performance as a closer in the final inning that stole the show. He protected a one-run lead and struck out Mike Trout, the most talented player of the previous generation, to clinch the championship for Japan.

Ohtani hit 1 for 3 as a DH before closing against Mike Trout in the 9th inning

Shohei Ohtani's teammates immediately mobbed him as Japan celebrated its first WBC title since winning back-to-back tournaments in 2006 and 2009. His final stats over Japan's seven wins were impressive, hitting .435/.606/.739 with four doubles and a home run at the plate and a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings on the mound.

Despite Shohei Ohtani's heroics, Japan's championship was more than just one player. Earlier in the game, Japan's lineup had taken the lead while its pitching staff had shut down the vaunted Team USA lineup. In fact, Japan's pitching had been a crucial factor throughout the tournament, with a number of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) All-Stars contributing to the team's success.

Going into the final, the US had been the favorite, but Japan's pitching had been carefully managed, with phenom Roki Sasaki and back-to-back Pacific League MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto used in the previous game against Mexico. Despite not starting established MLB pitchers Ohtani or Yu Darvish, Japan's pitching staff came up big in the final, with former NPB All-Star Shota Imanaga and a number of other All-Stars combining to throw five scoreless innings.

Japan are World Baseball Classic champions for the third time in team’s history. The samurai now has two more than the USA and Dominican Republic; the only two other teams to have lifted the trophy. The next WBC has been confirmed to take place in 2026.