Kawasaki Munenori (42), who has been active as a national baseball team member for a long time, is behind the century of confrontation between Shohei Otani (29) and Mike Trout (32) in the final match of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March. told the story
Japanese media ‘Sponichi Annex’ said on the 24th, “Kawasaki appeared on Asahi TV’s ‘Come Back Monday Watch Squad’ and revealed the behind-the-scenes of the confrontation between Otani and Trout in the WBC final.” It goes all the way back to the Los Angeles Angels’ spring training in February.”
According to Kawasaki, Trout asked Ohtani, who had been in the bullpen during the Angels’ spring training in February, to take the plate. However, Ohtani refused to show his ball, saying “because of the WBC”.
Ohtani has led the team as a close ally of Trout since joining the Angels in 2018, but seems to have blocked the opportunity to watch and adapt to Trout, who might face off in the WBC.
Coincidentally, the matchup for the 2023 WBC final match was between Ohtani’s Japan and Trout’s USA. With Ohtani on the mound and Trout at bat in the ninth inning with Japan leading 3-2, with no two runners, the confrontation of the century that all baseball fans have dreamed of took place.안전놀이터
It was Ohtani and Japan who laughed at the last minute of the final. Ohtani struck out Trout on a swing with a sharp, high-speed slider that curved outward on a full count and led Japan to the win.
It’s unclear how much of an impact Ohtani didn’t give Trout a chance to bat during bullpen pitching in spring training, but it’s clear that Ohtani is very wary of Trout, who he might encounter as an adversary.
Kawasaki explained, “Ohtani didn’t make eye contact with Trout even when he greeted Trout, who was about to face off in the WBC finals.
Kawasaki, who told the story behind Ohtani and Trout, is also a familiar face to domestic baseball fans. He was a member of the 2006 and 2009 WBC championships and participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He left a strong impression in the 2006 WBC finals 1st round Group A 3 match against Korea by hitting a solo home run against Korean starting pitcher Kim Seon-woo. He also experienced the major league stage by going through Seattle Mariners (2012), Toronto Blue Jays (2013-2015) and Chicago Cubs (2016).