Pitchers and catchers of the Los Angeles Angels are scheduled to report on February 15.
That’s nine days from now.
Yes: baseball is almost back.
If we have waited this long, might as well wait a few more days!
When it comes to the Angels, everybody wants to see Shohei Ohtani in action.
He was the 2021 AL MVP and the runner-up in 2022 for a reason: he is a uniquely dominant baseball player.
Angels fans who want to watch him in spring training will need to do it quick, though.
The man has a commitment to play for his country, Japan, during the World Baseball Classic.
As a result, he will leave camp much earlier than anticipated.
“Shohei Ohtani will be at Angels camp until around March 1, and will make one start. He then leaves for Japan and the WBC, per Perry Minasian,” Angels insider Sam Blum tweeted.
Shohei Ohtani will be at Angels camp until around March 1, and will make one start. He then leaves for Japan and the WBC, per Perry Minasian.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 4, 2023
The 2023 edition of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) will be played from March 8 to March 21.
It means Ohtani will be in Japan’s camp for a week before the official start of the competition.
The Japanese were the winners of the first two editions of the classic, in 2006 and 2009.
However, Ohtani was just a kid when they both occurred, and wants his first taste of meaningful international competition.
He also wants to make sure Japan returns to the highest place in the podium.
Angels fans will get to enjoy his talents for the whole 2023 season (or until he gets traded, which is a possibility).
Most of his March, however, will have him focused on the WBC.
NEXT: Shohei Ohtani Beats Out A Fellow Star In 2023 List
