Shohei Ohtani BioSnap a weekly updated Biography. Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers two-way phenom, just got named to Team Japans roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic alongside teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as announced by manager Hirokazu Ibata at a Tokyo news conference on January 26, according to the Los Angeles Times and MLB.com. Ohtani, who snagged WBC MVP in 2023 with a .435 average and 1.86 ERA while striking out Mike Trout for the title-clinching out, confirmed his participation back in November, though his pitching role remains TBD until spring training. This reunion of Japans championship core, including eight MLB stars like Seiya Suzuki and Yusei Kikuchi, sets up a star-studded defense of their crown starting March 6 against Taiwan. Meanwhile, MLB Network crowned Ohtani baseballs best player entering 2026 for the second straight year and fourth time since 2022, edging Aaron Judge after his third straight NL MVP fueled by 55 homers, a franchise-record season, and back-to-back World Series wins, per True Blue LA. At the BBWAA gala in New York, Ohtani collected his hardware in a rare English speech, thanking Dodgers ownership, front office, and teammates for his unanimous fourth MVP, while his elegant wife Mamiko Tanaka turned heads in a sleek navy gown, stealing the spotlight from her low-profile hubby, Marca reports. Business buzz swirls around Ohtanis Syncron, the caffeine-free hydration brand he helped develop for endurance and recovery, eyeing a national 2026 rollout with sustainable aluminum cans, Athletech News reveals. His deferred contract magic means the Dodgers pay him just $2 million next year, freeing cash for stars like Kyle Tucker amid his $100 million endorsement haul. Whispers of a Hawaii real estate lawsuit linger unconfirmed, but Ohtanis enigma off-fieldfrom media shyness to global tourism boost via the Ohtani effectkeeps fans hooked on this humble superstars next move. Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI