The World Baseball Classic has reached its end, which means that Opening Day is right around the corner.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be time to look back on what an exciting tournament it was.
The championship game featured Team USA and Japan, with Los Angeles Angels stars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani facing off against one another.
As it turns out, Ohtani was put in to pitch the ninth inning and secure a title for Team Japan.
His final test was Trout.
The count ran full, but Ohtani won the battle by fanning Trout on a slider.
On Twitter, Jeff Passan of ESPN took note of just how special this year’s Classic was and how having a battle between Ohtani and Trout was the perfect way to cap things off.
FINAL: Japan 3, United States 2
Samurai Japan is the World Baseball Classic champion. We'll remember plenty, but nothing more than Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout, which ended on a full-count slider that Trout swung through for strike three.
What a game. What a tournament.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 22, 2023
Ohtani and Trout are arguably the best two players in all of baseball.
It was simply the matchup that all fans were hoping and praying for.
Ultimately, it came to fruition when Japan completed a stunning comeback against Mexico in the semifinals.
Ohtani had stated earlier on Tuesday that he would be willing to pitch if needed.
And it was Ohtani who took the mound in the top of the ninth and got a chance to face Trout for the first time in his professional career as a pitcher.
The battle was intense, as neither Angels star was willing to give an inch.
Ultimately, Ohtani won the battle and earned the save, which was also enough to earn him MVP honors for the Classic.
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