Shohei Ohtani opens World Baseball Classic with explosive grand slam as Japan annihilates Taiwan

Shohei Ohtani started the World Baseball Classic disconnected with a boom. 

The Team Japan skipper deed a expansive slam successful the 2nd inning of Friday's opening crippled against Taiwan, en way to a 13-0 blowout win. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"I knew it was going to permission the parkland close distant aft I deed it," Ohtani told reporters aft the game. "It’s important to people first."

Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan hits a expansive slam successful the 2nd inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C crippled betwixt Japan and Chinese Taipei astatine Tokyo Dome connected March 06, 2026 successful Tokyo, Japan.  (Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images)

The superstar thanked fans aft the game. 

"It was a bully game, and we got disconnected to a bully start, truthful I deliberation it was each due to the fact that of your support," helium said to rising applause arsenic helium spoke successful Japanese. "I deliberation the battles volition continue, but if the fans and the squad tin travel unneurotic and cheer, it volition promote us. So delight enactment us."

Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan waves aft winning the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C crippled betwixt Japan and Chinese Taipei astatine Tokyo Dome connected March 6, 2026, successful Tokyo, Japan.  (Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images)

Japan's starting pitcher and Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto said helium tips his headdress to Ohtani aft the game. 

"This was our archetypal crippled of the tourney and to people the archetypal tally is ever difficult," Yamamoto said. "But Shohei deed a immense location tally to springiness america the momentum. So I extremity my headdress to him."

Japan is looking to support their satellite title aft winning the 2023 Baseball World Classic, winning a 3-2 thriller implicit the U.S.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan hits a expansive slam successful the 2nd inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C crippled betwixt Japan and Chinese Taipei astatine Tokyo Dome connected March 6, 2026, successful Tokyo, Japan.  (Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images)

This year's Team USA, led by skipper Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, volition beryllium looking to instrumentality backmost the crown, and volition commencement excavation play connected Friday nighttime against Brazil. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Related Article