Shohei Ohtani’s second-inning grand slam sparked a 10-run inning as Japan opened its WBC title defense with a dominant 13-0 mercy-rule victory over Chinese Taipei, with Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivering hitless pitching.
At the Tokyo Dome, Shohei Ohtani emerged with two outs in the second inning and the bases loaded, facing Chinese Taipei pitcher Hao-Chun Cheng. What followed was a moment of pure dominance: a 425-foot grand slam to center field that ignited a 10-run inning and set the tone for Japan’s World Baseball Classic opener. The reigning WBC MVP’s blast opened the scoring and propelled Japan to a mercy-rule 13-0 victory, a statement win that announced the defending champions’ intent to repeat, a detail confirmed by USA TODAY.
Ohtani wasn’t done. He had already doubled in the first inning and added an RBI single during Japan’s 10-run second frame, finishing 3-for-5 with five RBIs. This offensive explosion came as Japan began its WBC title defense, a tournament they last won in 2023 with Ohtani as MVP, context provided by Yahoo Sports. Ohtani’s postgame quote captured the moment’s significance: “I thought it might land as an out, so above all, I really wanted to get the first run on the board. I know there will be some tough battles ahead, but if the fans and the team can unite and everyone can help build the excitement together, it will really encourage us.”
While Ohtani provided the fireworks, Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto quietly dominated on the mound. The right-hander tossed 2⅔ hitless innings, setting a dominant tone for Japan’s pitching staff. Yamamoto’s performance was particularly reassuring for Dodgers fans concerned about his workload after a long MLB season, a fact highlighted by USA TODAY. His command and stuff signaled that Japan’s rotation could be a formidable force throughout the tournament.
Ohtani’s performance sent social media into a frenzy, with fans and analysts alike marveling at his continued two-way excellence.
Shohei Ohtani stats today
Shohei Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBIs in Japan’s World Baseball Classic opener against Chinese Taipei.
The 31-year-old hit a double to lead off the game in the first, hit a grand slam in the second inning to give Japan a 4-0 lead and then added an RBI single as Japan batted around in the second.
Ohtani won his fourth MVP award in 2025 with a career-high 55 home runs and returned to the mound after only hitting in 2024, leading the Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series title.
2025 (LAD): .282 AVG | 55 HR | 102 RBIs | 20 SB | 1.014 OPS
2024 (LAD): .310 AVG | 54 HR | 130 RBIs | 59 SB | 1.036 OPS
2023 (LAA): .304 AVG | 44 HR | 95 RBIs | 20 SB | 1.066 OPS
2022 (LAA): .273 AVG | 34 HR | 95 RBIs | 11 SB | .875 OPS
2021 (LAA): .257 AVG | 46 HR | 100 RBIs | 26 SB | .965 OPS
Japan vs Chinese Taipei WBC highlights
This lopsided victory underscores Japan’s depth and Ohtani’s transcendent talent. Chinese Taipei, meanwhile, must regroup quickly after falling to 0-2. For Japan, the message was clear: defending their title won’t be a passive endeavor. With Ohtani leading the charge and aces like Yamamoto ready to pitch, they look every bit the team to beat in this year’s WBC.
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