Ohtani won't pitch in World Baseball Classic, Dodgers manager says.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic and will serve only as the designated hitter.

Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic in March, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Roberts said Ohtani chose to focus solely on being the designated hitter for his native country. Roberts added the Dodgers would have supported Ohtani if he had wanted to also pitch. Ohtani returned to pitching last season after elbow surgery that followed a 2023 UCL tear, and he said he has had a normal off-season and feels healthy. Key details: - Dave Roberts said Ohtani will serve only as Japan's designated hitter in the WBC. - The World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 5–17. - Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch for Japan in the WBC, according to Roberts. - Ohtani tore his ulnar collateral ligament in 2023, had elbow surgery, missed pitching in 2024, and later made four postseason starts last year. - Dodgers manager Roberts said he will not manage Ohtani differently now that Ohtani is expected to pitch a full season in 2026 and that there will be rest between starts. - Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said he will not play for Canada in the WBC, citing a personal reason. Summary: Ohtani's role for Japan in the upcoming tournament will be limited to designated hitter duties, which clarifies how Japan and the Dodgers are approaching his workload. The World Baseball Classic runs March 5–17, and the Dodgers report for spring training on February 13.