Baseball: Shohei Ohtani will not participate in the WBC camp, but the Angels hope to keep their star.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Saturday that Shohei Ohtani will only play one Cactus League game before heading to Japan on March 1 for the World Baseball Classic.

Ohtani will therefore not be joining the Japanese national team in Miyazaki for their February 17-27 training camp in preparation for their WBC campaign which begins March 9 against China at the Tokyo Dome.

According to Minasian, the Japanese national team star will not be subject to any restrictions as a pitcher or hitter during the WBC. He also expressed confidence that the Angels will be able to sign him to a new contract when he enters free agency after next season.

“I think there’s a level of respect here,” Minasian said. “I think that’s one of the reasons he chose to play here. We were able to agree on two contracts in the last two years, which is not easy to do. »

The Angels signed Ohtani to a two-year contract worth $8.5 million ahead of the 2021 season and a one-year contract worth a record $30 million for 2023, avoiding both times arbitration.

“It’s not something that happens too often, especially with a player of his caliber,” Minasian said. “So there’s a level of respect and trust there that I think won’t change. And I think the relationship is exceptional. »

Club owner Arte Moreno recently said he would retain ownership of the Angels after exploring a possible sale, and Minasian believes he will do anything to keep Ohtani in Anaheim for the long term.

“It’s obvious that he has invested in this club for the duration of his ownership,” Minasian said of Moreno. “Knowing the individual and knowing how much he wants to win, I don’t believe anything is out of the realm of possibility. »

Féliciane is one of the talented editors of Essonneinfo. She has written for the site since its launch, and has become a well-known figure in the industry for her skillful reporting and unique take on stories. Féliciane’s main hobby is travelling. Her passion for travel has allowed her to write in-depth articles on cultures around the world.