![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/ba/8ba49abc-0d78-5d47-836a-5561cfecb3cc/641b63ec2526c.image.png?resize=640%2C360)
Tipsheet: Better pitchers would make World Baseball Classic even
![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](https://www.ballysports.com/images/image/private/t_16-9_1280/prod/ie8trjrbuwy0oq6xxm0m.jpg)
Ohtani hits pair of 3-run HRs for Japan in WBC tuneup National
![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/6323045783112-1024x576.jpg)
Ohtani strikes out USA's Trout to clinch WBC title for Japan
![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/uploads/imported_images/uploads/2022/10/np_file_188928.jpeg)
Tag - The Japan Times
![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/uploads/imported_images/uploads/2022/11/np_file_194432.jpeg)
Shohei Ohtani announces intention to play for Japan at World
![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/20b9537e708220eddcb2cd0bb14926da6a4da9a6/0_237_5000_3002/500.jpg?quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8ba2fbe4bfe4b12b9c9b2ed395147bc8)
Shohei Ohtani lived out a fairytale as the World Baseball Classic
![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](https://www.ballysports.com/images/image/private/t_16-9_1024/v1674513753/prod/xriuyej1ojwr0pc2ugh3.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani will shine at WBC, but he won't be Japan's only star
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Angels' Shohei Ohtani has smooth first outing with pitch clock
![Shohei Ohtani to skip Japan camp ahead of World Baseball Classic - The Japan Times](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/sp-jason-a-20170203.jpg)
Otani better off skipping World Baseball Classic than risking