MIAMI—Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout had dreamed of this moment, along with millions of fans throughout Japan and the United States: the two biggest stars on the planet, longtime teammates, facing each other at 60 feet, 6 inches, the world title at stake.
Of course, the count went full.
And then Ohtani got Trout to swing under a slider on the outside corner, sealing Japan’s 3–2 win Tuesday night, March 21, and its first World Baseball Classic title since 2009.
“This is the best moment in my life,” Ohtani said through a translator.
Team Japan celebrates after the final out of the World Baseball Classic Championship defeating Team USA at loanDepot park in Miami on March 21, 2023. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Ohtani, the two-way star who has captivated fans across two continents, was voted MVP of the WBC after batting .435 with one homer, four doubles, eight RBIs and 10 walks while going 2–0 with a save and a 1.86 ERA on the mound, striking out 11 in 9 2/3 innings….