Major League Baseball players, including Shohei Otani, who played for the Japan National Team in the WBC = World Baseball Classic in baseball, started their training camps on 23 May to prepare for the start of the season.
Lars Nootvá immediately entered the opening match and showed his full strength.
Angels' Ohtani returned to his camp in Tempe, Arizona, on the 23rd, and although the team's entire practice was off, he appeared at the practice facility before noon and spent about four hours indoors.
Ohtani is scheduled to be the Opening Day pitcher for the second consecutive year in the season opener on the 4th of this month, and will avoid pitching in the opening game scheduled for the 30th and pitch in a practice game for minor league players.
Padres pitcher Yu Darvish joined the team's full practice in Peoria, Arizona, where he worked on catches, long pitches, and defensive drills.
Darvish, who is scheduled to pitch in one game of the opener until the 27th, said, "I was able to relax at home yesterday, so I'm really energetic today, and I feel relaxed now that I'm back to my normal routine. He said without showing any fatigue from the WBC.
In addition, Red Sox player Masanao Yoshida showed up at the camp site in Fort Myers, Florida, and spent about three hours training and taking care of his body indoors.
From the 3th, he is scheduled to play in the opening match.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals' Nootvar started the opening game against the Yankees in Jupiter, Florida, at left field in the seventh.
In the first at-bat, he sprinted to first base, and in the second at-bat, he persistently picked a foreball and returned home in a timely manner by the following batter.
He also showed his talent in defence, showing running catches, and was substituted from the defense in the seventh inning.
After the match, Nootvar said: "I can't believe the WBC is over, Japan I'm still a little lonely away from my teammates because I really enjoyed my time with the national team. Participating in the WBC was effective in terms of preparing for the season and I am ready."
Major League Baseball will open on the 7th local time.
Nootvar eager to represent Japan at WBC next tournament
Regarding the next WBC tournament scheduled for 2026, Nootvar was already enthusiastic, saying, "If I am approached, I will be happy to participate, and if I am not a representative of the Japan team, I will not play in the WBC."
Behind this was a promise made to Otani.
Nootvah revealed that Ohtani gave him a luxury Japan watch during the tournament, saying, "When I went to Japan, Shohei gave it to me, but he told me that if I don't return to the Japan national team in 2026 or play for another team, I will give it back. I promised to come back and I will always cherish this watch."
"Everyone in the team has done very well and accepted me, and I will train hard and do everything I can to be selected for the national team Japan again. Three years later, when I am selected for the Japan national team, I want to be able to speak more Japanese," he said with a smile and was looking forward to playing for the Japan national team again.