Shohei Ohtani looks ahead to the new season, aiming to help the Dodgers achieve a third consecutive World Series championship.

Following the end of the World Baseball Classic campaign, Los Angeles Dodgers' Japanese two-way player Shohei Ohtani said today that this year's Classic was "quite spectacular." Ahead of the approaching new season, he pledged to fully pursue a World Series three-peat.

Japan lost to eventual champion Venezuela in the quarterfinals of this World Baseball Classic, missing the chance to defend its title, which also marked Japan's first-ever quarterfinal exit. Ohtani, who represented Japan, admitted after the match that he felt "very frustrated." He has returned to the Dodgers' spring training base in Arizona to prepare for the new season and pitched against the San Francisco Giants in today's spring training warm-up game, throwing 4.1 innings without allowing any runs, striking out four batters, with his fastest pitch reaching 99 mph. The Dodgers ultimately won 5-1.

Regarding his overall impression of this Classic, Ohtani said: "It was truly quite spectacular. The pitcher duel between the U.S. and Venezuela, both pitchers performed excellently. When scores are low, some might think batters didn't do well, but I believe it was because the pitchers performed too well."

On whether Japan should adopt the pitch timer used in the Major League, Ohtani thinks: "This would be easier for spectators. Personally, I feel fans might want it introduced, but it's not absolutely necessary. If you want to win on the world stage, of course it should be adopted; but if you feel playing at your own pace is fine, then it might not be needed."

Asked how to turn the Classic's disappointment into motivation for the new MLB season, Ohtani said: "These are two separate matters. It feels like the World Series and the Classic are similar-level events, both more like tournaments." He vowed: "We must work toward the goal of a three-peat. The upcoming season is long, but what we need to do is complete the challenge of a long season, which is different from short elimination tournaments."

After Japan ended with a "crushing defeat," social media saw defamation and malicious comments targeting athletes. Ohtani responded: "I personally don't care what others say. But attacks that deny personality or are completely unrelated to baseball, I think are inappropriate. As professional athletes, I accept personal criticism when performance is poor. But not all athletes can face it like that. Therefore, treating others with consideration remains a constant principle, no matter where."

The Dodgers achieved a World Series two-peat last season; the new season will begin on March 26 at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto slated to start the opening game.