Ohtani named WBC MVP, All-WBC team also announced

Japan’s two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels has been voted the 2023 World Baseball Classic Most Valuable Player.

March 21, 2023

Official Major League Baseball News Release

Following the conclusion of last night’s Championship Game at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, which saw Japan win its third World Baseball Classic Championship in five events, World Baseball Classic, Inc. announced the selections of the 2023 World Baseball Classic Most Valuable Player and the 2023 All-World Baseball Classic Team.

The selections were made by a panel of broadcasters, media members and World Baseball Classic official scorers.

Japan’s two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels was voted the 2023 World Baseball Classic Most Valuable Player. The 28-year-old native of Oshu, Japan closed out the Championship Game tonight to secure Japan’s 3-2 win over the United States. Overall, the 2021 American League MVP made three appearances on the mound, including two starts, and went 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA, permitting two runs on five hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings pitched. At the plate, the two-time Major League All-Star hit .435 with four doubles, a home run, eight RBIs, nine runs scored, one stolen base, a .606 on-base percentage and a .739 slugging percentage. His double to lead off the ninth inning on Monday night helped propel Japan to a comeback victory over Mexico in the Semifinals.

The following players have been selected to the 2023 All-World Baseball Classic Team (^ indicates a unanimous choice):

The previous all-tournament teams have included:

2006: Catcher Tomoya Satozaki of Japan; first baseman Seung Yeop Lee of Korea; second baseman Yuli Gurriel of Cuba; third baseman Adrián Beltré of the Dominican Republic; shortstop Derek Jeter of the USA; outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. of the USA, Jong Beom Lee of Korea and Ichiro Suzuki of Japan; designated hitter Yoandri Garlobo of Cuba; and pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka (MVP) of Japan, Yadel Marti of Cuba and Chan Ho Park of Korea.

2009: Catcher Iván Rodríguez of Puerto Rico; first baseman Tae Kyun Kim of Korea; second baseman José Lopez of Venezuela; third baseman Bum Ho Lee of Korea; shortstop Jimmy Rollins of the USA; outfielders Frederich Cepeda and Yoenis Céspedes of Cuba and Norichika Aoki of Japan; designated hitter Hyun Soo Kim of Korea; and pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka (MVP) and Hisashi Iwakuma of Japan and Jungkeun Bong of Korea.

2013: Catcher Yadier Molina of Puerto Rico; first baseman Edwin Encarnación of the Dominican Republic; second baseman Robinson Canó (MVP) of the Dominican Republic; third baseman David Wright of the USA; shortstop José Reyes of the Dominican Republic; outfielders Angel Pagán of Puerto Rico, Nelson Cruz of the Dominican Republic and Michael Saunders of Canada; designated hitter Hirokazu Ibata of Japan; and pitchers Kenta Maeda of Japan, Nelson Figueroa of Puerto Rico and Fernando Rodney of the Dominican Republic.

2017: Catcher Yadier Molina of Puerto Rico; first baseman Eric Hosmer of the USA; second baseman Javier Báez of Puerto Rico; third baseman Carlos Correa of Puerto Rico; shortstop Francisco Lindor of Puerto Rico; outfielders Wladimir Balentien of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Gregory Polanco of the Dominican Republic and Christian Yelich of the USA; designated hitter Carlos Beltrán of Puerto Rico; and pitchers Kodai Senga of Japan, Marcus Stroman (MVP) of the USA and Josh Zeid of Israel.