Ohtani vs. Trout: A Breakdown of a HISTORIC Battle

[@ほんだのくるま-b5s]

Ohtani in a post-game interview: "I knew that relying solely on my best pitches wouldn't be enough to face Trout. To compete at his level, I had to push myself beyond my limits and give it everything I had."

[@testromoto]

He's literally the epitome of a real-life anime protagonist who levels up at the exact moment when facing the ultimate opponent.

[@bobhookstratten9567]

I've watched a billion baseball games, and I'd never been so stoked for one at bat.

[@KeepItReal213]

Wow

[@Keeazul]

At an interview after the game, his catcher said that the balls came from Ohtani to Trout were totally different and also felt even heavier in his catching mit. It seems Shohei has a special booster in his mind and body for such a moment. Trout must've sensed it, too, and tried to bash it with his 100% swing. What a brave duel at the highest level!

[@EquaYonah]

Two friends going against each other. I imagine they were both thinking it's either gonna be a K or a tie game lol

[@smartmagis]

one can only imagine how far that ball would have flown if Trout had made contact. 100MPH heat with Trout's 100% swing... Goodness

[@adieognira9709]

Gives me goosebumps as well if Mike hit that slider. I love to see a rematch.. what do you guys think?

[@EnjoyerofYoutube]

Wow, I had no idea Shohei was the best clutch hitter AND pitcher! Crazy.

[@PopOutPaulie]

Whoever wrote the script for the WBC deserves a pulitzer prize

[@popozz]

As a backstory, team Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama was the one who convinced Ohtani to go to NPB after Ohtani had declared his intention to go to MLB. Instead, he suggested that Otani become a two-way player. Under Kuriyama's guidance, Ohtani became a great two-way player, and the team became the best in Japan. And he sent Otani to the MLB. For Otani, Kuriyama is a great mentor. Ten years later, Kuriyama invited Otani to participate in the WBC, and with the addition of Otani, many Japanese top players, including Darvish, joined the WBC. If Kuriyama had not been the manager, the team would not have been as strong as it was.

[@KeepItReal213]

God did

[@james00927]

this will go down in history. glad to have witnessed greatness.

[@Xenolar]

The catcher, Mr. Nakamura, had not received Ohatani's ball at all even in a bull pin during the course of 2023 World Baseball Championship. Ohatani asked him to sit upright and ignore meticulous control. The power of the ball prevails.

[@JurrasicPork]

Your most anticipated video ever and you did not disappoint. Quality work, as usual.

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

Thanks!

[@dillonmackay683]

Shoheis mindset was really put into play in his pregame speech

[@ifluxion]

Yeah, throughout the entire tournament, Ohtani was one of the few members to help the team break off from a bad momentum in several occasions. He's better when he's under pressure. He has a monster mindset.

[@richieg-p6170]

I’m so grateful to have witnessed this as well as the whole of the 2023 WBC! And Rob thank you so much for always showing these great athletes at their pitching finest

[@jiimmyboi12]

Baseball has resurrected from the pandemic ashes because of this game and tournament. I hope baseball movies come out because of this

[@solophentii3468]

Stepping outta the pen with dirt already on him… 🥶🇯🇵

[@SenorTortas]

In another alternate universe, Shohei instead throws another 102 MPH fastball that Mike Trout times perfectly after seeing so many, deposits it into the left field bleachers and ties it up for the US of A ... only for Shohei Ohtani to hit a mammoth walkoff home run out of the stadium to cement Japan's status as champions of the world 🔥

[@hsdonn664]

haha good one

[@pumpkinhill4570]

Two true outcomes.

[@csy897]

It wouldn't have been a deposit. The bat would have been smashed and the fireball would have been nailed to the bleachers

[@TeAmo-MeWe]

The matchup between Trout and Ohtani has done more for baseball than MLB has in the last 20 years. It was something that all baseball fans wanted, gained new fan bases, and elevated baseball's international status. Baseball did win at the moment.

[@KeepItReal213]

Many started watching baseball for that first time after/during the WBC. And many came back to watching baseball during/after the WBC. 🔥🔥

[@Hosstache]

Great competition between teammates!!! Loved it!!!

[@boblangford81]

Epic Showdown… this moment is more memorable than any recent World Series moments. The WBC is now the true World Series! Too bad rich MLB owners are selfish and trying to hold it back. Ohtani is the most exciting player to watch since Babe Ruth. All of this is very amazing!

[@pamsuepmnos2371]

Wbc was incredible and how fitting for this matchup to come with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th in a 1 run game. That slider looks so much nastier layered over the fastball. But one question remains. What position will Sho choose to become the first ever 3 way player? Picture someone winning the Cy Young, silver slugger and gold glove and tell me you didn't imagine Shohei Ohtani.

[@rustydomino]

don't they give gold gloves to the best fielding pitcher?

[@Ludzig]

​@@rustydomino yes

[@thisnamewastaken413]

3 way player: he hits pitches, and also catches for himself somehow 😅

[@user-ie6jt1st5r]

The problem would be his workload. It is already too freaking much. But if another defense position is absolutely needed, it would probably is an outfielder, he has done it in Japan.

[@kami_1789]

​@@thisnamewastaken413 he's done it before 😅

[@striderhanzo]

Storybook display of co-workers on different sides of the office. I will eagerly await the next tournament because this 2023 tournament was amazing through and through.

[@TonyCrenshawsLatte]

That final at-bat was the at-bat to end all at-bats. It was the baseball god's gift to humanity. We are not worthy.

[@eddylo6007]

It’s samurai japan, and facing an opponent you highly respect, face to face, its like Bushido… you bring your best move and I’ll match you with my best. All about an honorable fight. Throw consecutive heaters, and in two tempting sequences down the middle where you know Trout will obliterate but I don’t care because I want to see what my best can do against your best…and in one final move Ohtani pulls this slider as the last strike. Poetry

[@st0rmchild]

Great analysis! That last pitch, and the entire sequence leading up to it, was just incredible.

[@wrxtuan]

What a WBC, instantly after the final pitch even I double fisted screaming at the heavens.

[@Finedeserthouses]

Trout to be the captain and bring so many talents into the team USA has made this WBC so special…but to end it like this (what every baseball fan dreamed of) is beyond movies. I guess if there’s another way to end it, Trout hitting a home run to tie the game and Shohei hitting a home run on the bottom of the 9th to Sayonara😂😂😂💕❤

[@seda_11]

Thank you baseball gods for giving us this legendary moment. Lived up to every bit of the hype. What a tournament.

[@Weewooweewoo]

woah weird seeing the pest control god here lol

[@seda_11]

@@Weewooweewoo Based

[@moiseswynns1142]

Very deadly slider and i think umpire would have probably called it a strike too borderline

[@chitowns69]

The same thing I said because that catcher would've easily framed that slider very little at border line and got that strike

[@Schraiber]

One of the best at bats in history

[@ZeuZLoD]

This will go down as the best at bat in baseball history.

[@big-al-montaugh]

Ohtani is like a comic book superhero come to life.

[@SG-jm7np]

Would like people’s honest opinion, including Pitching Ninja, if possible. This WBC felt like the very definition of the term “World Series”. The World Cup, the World Series of Poker, etc, uses the proper terminology as well. Should MLB change their “World Series” name?

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

Great question

[@al1976-v7m]

The look Ohtani gives him is priceless indeed.

[@shuyi3100]

2023/June/28 starting pitcher with 10k & 2 home runs in one game. He is a monster dude.

[@drbryant23]

Brilliant analysis. Imagine how uninteresting baseball would be if everyone cheated like the 2017 Astros and always knew what pitch was coming.

[@garyhuntsr71698]

What a blast what a moment What a marvelous player and what a great nation America

[@samboni702]

This shootout gave me an old western movie vibe. 🔫

[@JPuReTaLeNt]

I know everyone wanted either Trout to get this win or Ohtani but it’s not like the season is over. It hasn’t even begun. Imagine a more focused Trout playing like he did in this WBC alongside Ohtani and a new look Angels. This could be the year they make a run with it being Shohei’s potential last season.

[@leests]

here i am in july 2023 trying to will the Angels to a WC berth

[@ko5338]

凄い試合だった！大谷、トラウト、シーズンでも暴れてほしい！

[@kenvo343]

that glove toss at the end was epic.

[@Geoff1928]

Best breakdown of this at bat on the internet!

[@akitas8165]

Ohtani once again showing he is a way more valuable player than Trout.

[@jasonthemagnificent2.0]

Nice video as always

[@pranavarora9976]

Trout actually has been having problems with the high velo fastballs in the zone for a year or so now. He's still a killer on anything offspeed and has a fantastic eye, but his batspeed seems to be on the decline (or it's because he's going for the A-swing a lot more these days) so pitchers are challenging him more with heat straight down the middle. I remember Lance Lynn and a couple of Texas relievers doing the same. His contact rate in the zone was down last year (79.9% in 2022 vs 88.8% in 2019) too, which was why his OBP was a lot lower despite a similar chase rate to other seasons.

[@tchlin]

Alot of people have trouble catching up to Ohtanis fastball. It's not just the velocity it's the late life and his length.

[@wv4776]

@TheSportsGuru I mean idk if what I’m saying is true or not. But I think that Ohtani’s average fastball is not that special but when he really brings it it seems like a different pitch. I’ll bet if you looked at the rpms of the fastballs he threw Trout they would be pretty impressive. But I always thought that Ohtanis every day fastball was rather flat and unimpressive (by elite MLB pitcher standards) and at least according to you the numbers back it up

[@toddlazares7707]

@TheSportsGuru Hopefully it's true that he changed his fastball because whenever he gets rock it is usually due to his fastball and the hanging splitter. Maybe, that's why he also cut down his splitter usage relying mainly on his slider. Think his Japanese teammates have better control of their splitters than Ohtani these days. Don't even remember the last time he painted the fastball...

[@rawbones4117]

There was this great article on Fangraphs a few years back called "just throw it down the middle" or something. It basically detailed that some fastball pitchers are finding success by... Throwing it really fast down the middle. Since hitters have been trained to watch for movement, and guard the corners. Nobody actually expects it "down the dick". Check it out!

[@xXIronSwanXx]

@TheSportsGuru they probably aren't intentional. I overheard the Japanese announcers that seem to know him well stating that his side throw action sometimes gives him a stronger middle finger grip which has his normal fast ball move to the left a little bit imitating a cutting movement. His cutter would normally be a lot slower compared to his fast ball and he would essentially throw like a fastball with a slider type grip.

[@BirdGang6]

And they will both be watching the MLB postseason from their couch. It’s mind blowing to me

[@JammastaJ23]

I love baseball so much what a game

[@ryanmcwilliams8784]

All those pitches were absolutely nasty. Even that 102 fastball that he yanked wild. That thing cut even better then the fastball before that

[@csy897]

you have a 0.38% chance of mike trout giving you 3 swinging strikes. And you nailed it on your biggest stage yet. There was not a doubt that Ohtani is the greatest baseball player to have ever lived but sports in America is all about stories, and this was definitely a defining moment.

[@adieognira9709]

The overlay says it all coupled with the explanation. just WOW @pitchingninja

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

Thanks Adie!

[@sky-uf1gl]

アメリカが野球の歴史を刻むことを続けてくれたおかげで、遠く離れた日本という国で大谷翔平が誕生しました。ありがとうアメリカ。野球が大好きです。

[@joalco3]

Thats the craziest Mike Trout fact ive ever seen

[@fahimp]

Shohei is so good at baseball it’s unfair. He used his 3rd best pitch in his arsenal to strikeout trout. I legit thought he was going to throw his splitter to get him (probably would’ve too). But that was an 80 grade slider, top of the line stuff.

[@DW-op7ly]

All the other Japanese pitchers were throwing splitters... Nice way to mess up batters when they expect you to throw a splitter

[@fahimp]

@@DW-op7ly yeah the splitter in Japan seems to be what sliders are to the us. Still though, othani’s split is one of, if not, THE best pitch around. Normally in that situation I would go with your best pitch or even 2nd best pitch. He said fuck it, I’ll go with my 3rd dominant pitch lol

[@my2l]

his slider was probably his best pitch last year, especially if you consider how much he used it in zone and its whiff rate, his splitter command was a lot more inconsistent.

[@fahimp]

@@my2l the batting avg against his spillter was .126 last year and he threw the splitter 6x more then his slider. It was and always has been his best pitch. With that being said, I think his slider might get up there this year if he’s going to throw that filth lol

[@my2l]

@@fahimp no he did not, baseball savant just renamed the sweeping slider as a sweeper, and he threw that over 37 percent of the time last year, and over 50 percent the time in certain starts, that's more than 3x his splitter usage. The ones that are still named slider are probably the few gyros he messed around with, do you really believe he threw 2 percent sliders if you watched any of his starts last year?

[@airtioteclint]

Happy for Japan but I can't help but to feel bad for Mike Trout. You know he wanted this bad. Not just for team USA but for all the times the reporters would ask him about Ohtani during HIS interview.

[@RunForPeace-hk1cu]

and as if Ohtani doesn't want that bad to prove to doubters that can be deliver in the clutch .... he has way more haters than any superstar. ... bc you know why.

[@adieognira9709]

I understand how you feel. I'm a fan of both of these gentleman. My heart was tearing seeing Mike but was also feeling happy with Shohei being able to strike him out. I was feeling crazy with emotions.

[@sixtynine2856]

​@@adieognira9709 👍 same.

[@IsThisThePrizeIveWaitedFor]

@@adieognira9709 me too 😢 I was hoping for this match up but when it was actually happening my heart was breaking. Cuz no matter the outcome, one of my 2 favorite players was gonna lose to the other.

[@Doflaminguard]

Trout want it but Team USA doesnt. They even said to hold back to prevent injuries because this tournament "doesnt mean anything."

[@burningknuckle26]

that was phenominal shohei bravo

[@LinkRocks]

You know you're special when you make Mike Trout look foolish at the plate.

[@cps7962]

just cant stop watching this clip. unreal. ohatani is unreal. prb not the same but is was 8 yrs old watiching another clip. regggie jackson vs bob welch in the ws. another unreal clip.

[@yuumetal2363]

I wanted Shohei throw a sinker 4 seams against Trout

[@yoinkhaha]

Those pitches were so monumental they left a permanent purple trail through spacetime. Poor Trout is never gonna hear the end of this in the locker room.

[@wv4776]

Trout thanking God rn Shohei’s english ain’t all that. But fr feel bad for Trout he had a great AB saw those pitches very well but baseball is the sport where you fail to the pitcher 7/10 times and go to the hof

[@yoinkhaha]

@@wv4776 Was thinking about this too.. His chances are lower than a shooter in an NHL penalty shot. Well'p, that's baseball though... lots of disappointment but hey, tomorrow's another game! =D love it.

[@boomingbob1579]

Best ending

[@BryanChance]

that was cold blooded..LOL but hey they're buddies still

[@arsmor1end1]

Nice analysis. IMO, only two things you left out: 1. Trout rarely swings at the 1st pitch, which Ohtani knows well, so he wasn't going to deliver him a fastball over the plate (friend v. friend mind games); 2. (Typing as an Ohtani fan), there might not be another case in MLB history in which a pitcher has trained with, played with, and watched an "opponent" from the on-deck circle as much as Ohtani has. At this level, tie goes to the pitcher 1/1 times. If it were 7/10 times, might have been a different story a couple of times...but Ohtani is the sporting unicorn of the last half-century (within one sport), at least.

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

Good point re #1, though Trout swings at 1st pitches now a bit more than early in his career (67 times last year, based on a quick look). On the flip side, Ohtani may have thought that Trout would try to surprise him by jumping on a first pitch fb that he'd try to just get ahead with and trying to go yard (so he stayed away from the FB) to try to get him to weakly ground out. Hard to tell.

[@yuumetal2363]

I didnt expect Shohei throw slider in the end. if count was not 2-3, I thought he will throw split. but it was 2-3, in that situation I thought he will throw straight.

[@NotExplicable]

Batters don't usually get hot until May-June especially when Velo is 100+

[@Dsmpunk59]

Wish I could see a prime juiced Bonds against ohtani

[@ehtikhet]

The codify stat is completely and utterly jaw droppingly insane!

[@avejaly8065]

Shohei wanted that. #FOCUS

[@yuichiwatanabe421]

Do you know Nakamura, the catcher, get Otani's ball for the first time in that occasion? He has never received Otani's ball even in the bull pen or in the practice (his catching skill shoud be admired). He was told to stay settled in the center. This means that Otani was planning to shut Trout down with the power of the ball rather than the ball placement.

[@ORagnar]

He'd dismantle anyone with those pitches. It was a combination of high speed and high quality. Maybe a contact hitter could get a hit. 1.o

[@김이박-m5x]

오타니 터벅터벅 걸어오는 저 씬부터 영화시작인겨 크으

[@yoshxr7596]

2:51 insane.

[@jazztarou]

The World Series, which began as a project by a newspaper company called The World, is no longer the World Series.

[@garyleahy4537]

These two don't face each other regularly. If they went 100 times, I'd be willing to bet even money that it goes 50/50. Good hitters (and Trout is one) will adjust to the pitchers tendencies over time.

[@user-ie6jt1st5r]

Absolutely, hitting is hard. Statistically, a single one-on-one matchup overwhelmingly favors pitcher. Even hitting 0.300 today are considered elite, 3 out of 10. 10 at bats, 3 hits, that's success for hitter.

[@NorthernAzCards]

Breathe trout ...breathe

[@shutup_play]

Shohei Otani is the face of baseball.

[@tsangchim]

Any idea on why ohtani only throw fastball and slider for the whole inning? I expect a splitter at 32 counts

[@Tomtomxyz26]

Ohtani’s been trying to decrease the % of splitter from his selection. Probably because it’s an injury prone pitch

[@paulandersbullecer3152]

Mano y mano

[@faithless_to_the_end]

if he doesnt have a feel for it he wont throw it

[@tsangchim]

But he did throwing splitter in the previous outing, and he is clearly going all out for just 1 inning. So I do wonder why he didn’t use his go to pitch

[@pranavarora9976]

@@Tomtomxyz26 Also he doesn't have as much control over it. His slider on the other hand is both nasty and very repeatable and controllable. So, perfect for a 3-2 count.

[@balthazar3424]

This is the Field of Dreams! Apart from that, Shohei Ohtani is said to be good at soccer and swimming.

[@cs10isawesome]

I love Shohei Ohtani but no one thinks it was dumb/too gutsy to throw down the middle of the plate twice!?!?! I mean even if it's 100 mph, elite hitters easily hit fastballs down the middle.

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

Here's all of the 102 mph fastballs from 2022 that were middle-middle on statcast. There were NO hits on any middle-middle 102 fastball. Hitters don't necessarily easily hit FBs down the middle, with elite velo. twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1601215295808360448?s=20

[@cs10isawesome]

@@PitchingNinjaVideos Oh you right! Thanks for the reply and doing that research. I stand corrected!

[@johnnystewart83]

Congratulations Japan 🎊

[@弁当箱-s3d]

The next time I want to see Ohtani Vs Ohtani

[@johnnyeaton]

That man deserves to play on a team with a smarter front office.

[@everypitchcounts4875]

How about Mookie Betts not hustling down the first base line to beat out that double play

[@helloman3676]

no way he beats that out 😂😂😂

[@everypitchcounts4875]

@@helloman3676 He didn't even try. Down one run in the last inning with the WBC championship game on the line & couldn't even sprint 90 feet. When you do the little things right, big things will happen.

[@helloman3676]

@@everypitchcounts4875 I don't care if you're the fastest human ever, you're not beating that routine double play.

[@joninosaka]

Maybe he wanted to see the Ohtani-Trout matchup as well.

[@csy897]

Man, that double play was such a great set up to the final moment. Like, a good anime writer would have written something like that

[@rickybobby8224]

It was more massacre than battle

[@Watpong]

ground out mookie then K trout in the last inning and be the champion. that's all prove how he great.

[@albertwhittaker6385]

Mike struck out before ohtani faced him. So why is it a big deal now when he face him

[@HKim0072]

He didn’t throw his splitter once.

[@kennywiley768]

"Dismantled".' Lol.. Good pitching beats good hitting. Always has, always will.

[@BraeAllin]

its not that deep. They are teamates. He knew what to throw Trout.

[@STXOG]

👍

[@steven4vanw356]

Rob, do you think as great as this moment was there is going to be an awkwardness to Ohtani and Trout’s relationship? This was no ordinary strikeout and the amount of hate I see Trout is getting, I can’t imagine they just easily leave this in the past. I bet teammates are going to constantly be looking every time those two interact.

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

I hope not! They're both competitors and I know both wanted to win that AB, but I'm sure they can put that behind them. Fans probably need to chill on the Trout slander...Trout is one of the best players ever to play the game. Pitchers win more than hitters win. It's just a fact of baseball.

[@lavishhabits]

Such a big hype for Trout. Honesty, Americans and their patriotism clearly makes them blind (or straight up stupid). The truth is, Othani is miles away from Trout, quickly becoming one of the best baseball players ever to play the game and absolutely dominating both, the hitting and pitching departments, AT ONCE. Whilst in the other hand Mike Trout is just another average player. Gotta get your facts right.

[@CFHang-fc3cx]

I call out that slider..them fastballs was set ups..trout easily could of smash one”em. By missing two already his mentality was screwed.!swung too fast.

[@lostvayne9146]

i bet that 102 mph fastball that hit the ground was to scare trout even more and get him to commit to looking out for the fastball. If ohtani was accurate in the box, good luck to trout because you got a 102 mph pitch coming your way. If not, it would add to the mental stack. Win win in this case for ohtani. Then came the perfect slider.

[@brianyakata1978]

Too much is made of this match up. Trout is not the mvp he used to be. The real match up was betts!

[@doublehaloMedia]

and they didn't pick him for MLB MVP.....

[@helloman3676]

Because the other guy set the record, anything short of the record, it's Ohtani MVP. Judge NEEDED the greatest AL season of ALL TIME to dethrone Ohtani, think about that.

[@anthonyr7977]

@@helloman3676 I'm a big Yankee fan and thought Judge was the deserved AL MVP, but you hit the nail on the head. Shohei being able to put both Cy Young and Silver Slugger numbers automatically makes him the clear MVP frontrunner, but Judge had to conjure up an almighty season to beat him to it. Both are different players, but Shohei, in my opinion, is objectively miles better

[@mr198221]

Seems like Trouty isn't clutch after all 😂

[@BotchedInvestigation]

He's NOT i have been saying this for many years

[@pranavarora9976]

1.013 OPS in high leverage PAs last year (for context Ohtani's was .943)

[@BotchedInvestigation]

@@pranavarora9976 "Clutch" meaning in pivotal and game changing moments that are meaningful. I'm an Angels fan and there are a handful of other players I'd rather have in these moments than Trout. Trout falters too much just like last night in these decisive moments.

[@pranavarora9976]

@@BotchedInvestigation 'Pivotal and game changing moments', so you mean high leverage?

[@BotchedInvestigation]

@@pranavarora9976 No not necessarily More like games to get the line moving and keep the line moving, take a lead, build on a lead, or cement a lead,. Trout can SOMETIMES do this against average pitching or washed up pitchers but NEVER against good to real good pitching. Ohtani is superb, fantastic, elite pitcher so Trout never had a chance against Ohtani. But even in high leverage situations it would always be in meaningless games high leverage or not.

[@RandallBalls]

"DISMANTELED"!? Jeez. Pitchers win 7/10 battles with the BEST batters. Let alone average or worse guys. I think you are reaching here

[@dz_ssbm]

Did you miss the bottom text at 3:00? Sure pitchers win 7/10 battles but Trout avoids whiffing 3 times in an at bat 996/1000 times. He absolutely got dismantled on this one.

[@MurrayPeeps]

*banging my head into the wall* clutch players don’t exist.

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

I've always thought the same as a statistics guy...but maybe they do. If you've ever been under pressure, you know it makes you perform differently. Maybe we should stop thinking antiseptically about it.

[@MurrayPeeps]

@@PitchingNinjaVideos I don’t hate your logic there…

[@BotchedInvestigation]

Trout only hits balls in the lower part of the zone . Trout is overhyped overrated so this doesn't surprise me

[@leadboots72]

I wish I could get my car's paint as smooth and glossy as the surface of your brain, sir!

[@al1976-v7m]

which makes it all the more fascinating how he blew that second pitch by him.

[@popozz]

@@leadboots72 Your sarcasm is as sharp as Otani's slider!🤣

[@tootspogsforever5590]

​@@leadboots72 lmaoo

[@ForestOfSleep]

Two pitches right down the pipe and Trout whiffed on both. I'm sorry but for someone considered by a significant amount of people to be "The best player on the planet" that is embarrassing.

[@kevngu7256]

It was the preparation by shohei and ball catcher . They have a game plan and executed well imo

[@carlhelms595]

Disgusting display by the US team. Trout should be ashamed to show his face. Now he'll be reminded everyday of disgracing his country when he sees the face of the enemy that embarrassed him in front of the world in the same dugout. We will be reminded of our country's past failures everytime we see that jap, and we will have to endure the shame of this horrific event every time we see them together.

[@tootspogsforever5590]

Lmao, are you still ok??!!😀😁

[@Texasguy316]

He’s not the best clutch hitter and pitcher. He doesn’t play enough to qualify and hasn’t played enough within 5 years to qualify lol come on man…..he’s great no doubt, but he’s facing a guy who has zero experience in important games and zero experience in pressure. Also he’s not the best at either one of the two sides of the field. He’s not the best hitter and he’s not the best pitcher. So how can he be the best player? He does both very well, but isn’t top 5 in either category. Top 10 sure. His MVP was due to his dual ability. Not his stats alone.

[@PitchingNinjaVideos]

He's without a doubt a top 5 pitcher in baseball. And had a higher slugging percentage that Jose Ramirez last year and was top 5 in Slugging in the AL.

[@lostvayne9146]

you do know what MVP stands for right?

[@Man0verBoard]

Ohtani told Trout, "Your soul is mine!" 🫵