Ohtani K’s Trout for final out as Japan wins WBC
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Jeff PassanESPN
MIAMI — The dream matchup happened. Ninth inning. Two outs. One-run game. The best player on the planet, Shohei Ohtani, on the mound for Japan. His teammate and good friend, Mike Trout, at the plate for Team USA.
The count went full. Ohtani unleashed a vicious slider. Trout swung through it. And with it, Samurai Japan won the World Baseball Classic.
In a tense, anxiety-riddled game with a storybook ending, Japan capped a perfect WBC with a 3-2 victory over the U.S. in front of 36,058 at LoanDepot Park. The Japanese team, holding a potent U.S. offense down and in front of a partisan crowd with “USA!” chants in the ninth inning, won the epic at-bat between the two Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani, who hadn’t pitched in relief since the 2016 postseason in Japan, had emerged out of the bullpen and took slow, long strides toward the plate — walking, taking in the scenery, as Trout, from the dugout, peeked over his shoulder just to make sure he knew what was coming.
What came to the first hitter, Jeff McNeil: a 101.5 mph fastball, the hardest Ohtani had thrown since coming to the United States — until he would later face Trout. McNeil wound up drawing a walk, but Mookie Betts grounded into a double play, setting up the at-bat Ohtani and Trout both wanted.
It lasted six pitches: a slider for a ball, a 100 mph fastball for a swinging strike, a 100 mph fastball for a ball, a 100 mph fastball for a swinging strike, a 101.6 mph fastball for a ball and the 87 mph slider, the last of three swinging strikes, to send Japan home champions.
Samurai Japan, the juggernaut of this WBC, finished off the Americans to cap a 7-0 tournament. Starting with Shota Imanaga and ending with Ohtani, who also went 1-for-3 batting third as designated hitter, Japan spread out its nine innings among seven pitchers and shut down the U.S. offense, whose two runs came on solo homers from Trea Turner in the second inning and Kyle Schwarber in the seventh. Otherwise, the American offense was feckless, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranding eight runners.
Over the previous 17 days, the WBC had filled the typically staid March baseball calendar with heart-palpitating action: tournament favorite Dominican Republic getting ousted in pool play; a late-game, go-ahead grand slam that propelled the U.S. into the semifinals; and a ninth-inning walk-off double to send Japan into the finals in a come-from-behind win.
All of it set up a dream final between two baseball powerhouses: Team USA, with its copious All-Stars and billion-dollar lineup, against Samurai Japan, the No. 1-ranked team in the world, defending Olympic gold medalists and owner of the uniform worn by Ohtani.
Throughout the tournament, Ohtani continued to amaze, as he has done both hitting and pitching during his five-year major league career. The joy of the WBC, of playing in games larded with meaning, was difficult for Ohtani to hide. The Angels haven’t made the postseason since he joined them in 2018.
So before the finals, in a video posted on social media, Ohtani delivered a fiery speech to his teammates, acknowledging the awe with which they viewed Team USA — and the talent that existed inside of the clubhouse that was plenty capable of beating it.
“Let’s stop admiring them,” Ohtani said. “If you admire them, you can’t surpass them. We came here to surpass them, to reach the top. For one day, let’s throw away our admiration for them and just think about winning.”
They reached the top at 10:43 p.m. ET, engulfing Ohtani, their hero and lifeblood. Ten minutes later, they received their gold medals, winners, just like Ohtani said.
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Max Olson
FRISCO, Texas — A dynamic new quarterback, a new offensive system and two projected first-round picks up front have Utah coach Kyle Whittingham feeling enthusiastic about the Utes’ chances of bouncing back from a disastrous debut season in the Big 12.
Utah was voted No. 1 in the Big 12 preseason poll last year after joining from the Pac-12, but a brutal run of injuries and inconsistency resulted in a seven-game conference losing streak and a 5-7 finish — the program’s first losing season since 2013.
After weeks of contemplation about his future and what was best for the program, Whittingham, the third-longest-tenured head coach in FBS, decided in December to return for his 21st season with the Utes.
“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note,” Whittingham told ESPN at Big 12 media days Wednesday. “It was too frustrating, too disappointing. As much as college football has changed with all the other factors that might pull you away, that was the overriding reason: That’s not us, that’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”
“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note. It was too frustrating, too disappointing. … That’s not us. That’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham on going 5-7 in 2024
Whittingham and Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley conducted a national search for a new offensive coordinator and quickly zeroed in on New Mexico‘s Jason Beck. Then they managed to land Devon Dampier, Beck’s first-team All-Mountain West quarterback, via the transfer portal.
After finishing 11th nationally in total offense with 3,934 yards and 31 total touchdowns and putting up the fourth-most rushing yards (1,166) among all FBS starters, Dampier followed his coach to Salt Lake City and immediately asserted himself as a difference-maker for a program that had to start four different QBs in 2024.
“He’s a terrific athlete,” Whittingham said. “He’s a guy that, if spring is any indication, he’s an exciting player, and we can’t wait to watch him this season. … He’s got that ‘it’ factor. He’s a leader. Needless to say, very excited to see what he does for us.”
They’ve surrounded Dampier with 21 more newcomers via the transfer portal and will protect him with two returning starters at tackle in Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, who are projected first-round NFL draft picks by ESPN’s Matt Miller.
“We feel they’re the best tandem in the country,” Whittingham said. “The offensive line in general, I feel, it’s the best since I’ve been there. And that’s quite a statement. We’ve had some really good offensive lines. We’ve got two first-rounders and three seniors inside that have played a lot of good football for us. That better be a strength of ours, and that’s what we’re counting on.”
Whittingham has previously said he did not want to coach past the age of 65. Now that he’s 65, he acknowledges that he might’ve arrived at a different decision about his future had the Utes ended up winning the Big 12 in 2024. He is reenergized about getting them back into contention, but he’s not ready to say whether this season might be his last.
“The best answer I can give you is, right now, I’m excited and passionate about going to work every single day,” Whittingham said. “As soon as that changes, I’ll know it’s time. I’m just counting on knowing when the time is right. I can’t tell you exactly what the circumstances will be other than losing the fire in the belly.”
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Jesse Rogers
The automated ball-strike system is coming to the All-Star Game next week in Atlanta.
MLB officials added the feature to the annual exhibition game knowing it could be a precursor to becoming a permanent part of the major leagues as soon as next year.
The same process used this past spring training will be used for the Midsummer Classic: Each team will be given two challenges with the ability to retain them if successful. Only a pitcher, catcher or hitter can ask for a challenge and it has to happen almost immediately after the pitch. The player will tap his hat or helmet indicating to the umpire he wants to challenge while any help from the dugout or other players on the field is not allowed.
MLB officials say 72% of fans who were polled during spring training said the impact of ABS on their experience at the game was a “positive” one. Sixty-nine percent said they’d like it part of the game moving forward. Just 10% expressed negativity toward it.
MLB’s competition committee will meet later this summer to determine if ABS will be instituted next season after the league tested the robotic system throughout the minor leagues and spring training in recent years. Like almost any rule change, there were mixed reviews from players about using ABS but nearly all parties agree on one point: They prefer a challenge system as opposed to the technology calling every pitch.
As was the case in spring training, once a review is initiated, an animated replay of the pitch will be shown on the scoreboard and the home plate umpire will either uphold the call or overturn it. ABS uses Hawk-Eye system technology which tracks the pitch trajectory and location in relation to the strike zone, providing an instant assessment which can be relayed to the home plate umpire.
The All-Star Game will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday.
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