Shohei Ohtani highly praises the Chinese Taipei pitching staff: As a batter, I will prepare thoroughly.

At the 2026 6th World Baseball Classic, the defending champion Samurai Japan held an official practice at Tokyo Dome. In the subsequent press conference, when asked about his impression of Taiwanese baseball, Japanese star Shohei Ohtani stated, "The pitchers from Taiwan made a very strong impression on me. As a batter, I will make sure to be ready."

Shohei Ohtani previously represented Japan in the inaugural 2015 WBSC Premier12. Although he did not face the Chinese Taipei team then, his performance still left a deep impression on fans. Now, returning to the international stage, there is significant attention on his potential matchup against Chinese Taipei.

Speaking about Taiwan, Ohtani said, "I have visited Taiwan once and found the fans incredibly passionate. You could really feel how much everyone loves baseball. I also enjoyed the cityscapes there and would like to visit again. The pitchers from Taiwan left a strong impression on me. As a batter, I will prepare thoroughly to face them."

Following Chinese Taipei's championship at the 2024 3rd WBSC Premier12, the overall strength of Asian baseball is gaining increasing international recognition. Ohtani holds a positive view on the growth of baseball in Asia and looks forward to the upcoming Japan vs. Taiwan matchup on March 6th. He responded, "I sincerely hope baseball across Asia continues to flourish. As a member of Team Japan this time, I will give my all to win. I hope both teams can showcase their abilities and deliver an exciting game."