The stage was set for an extraordinary encounter on March 21, 2023. In the championship game of the World Baseball Classic final, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout were up against each other, and millions were watching the epic showdown in anticipation. But one person had a truly unique view. Japan’s outfielder Lars Nootbaar was right there in the middle of it all. He recently made a bold confession about what was really going through his mind when it all unfolded.
In the championship game, Japan, a two-time champion, took on Team USA, hoping to reclaim the throne after a long wait. Team USA, on the other hand, had entered the final as the defending champions, determined to replicate their feat. It was a tense, back-and-forth game and it eventually ended 3-2 in favor of Samurai Japan, starting a new chapter in international baseball.
During an appearance on Bleacher Report’s On Base, Lars Nootbaar and Mookie Betts relived the moment when Ohtani came in to close the game. “He’s (Shohei) coming in the game and it feels like surreal moment… this guy’s a freak,” Nootbaar said.
That feeling was backed by fact. Ohtani’s fastball averaged 99.6 mph that inning and repeatedly touched triple digits against Trout. That sort of velocity was indeed freakish and it left even his own teammates in awe.
While Nootbaar’s confidence in his phenomenal teammate never wavered, given Ohtani’s spectacular two-way play throughout the tournament, he was still aware of the danger ahead, with a stacked USA lineup: “And McNeel was nine one, You (Mookie Betts) were two, Goldie was three…”
Nootbaar knew the challenge was immense, especially with Paul “Goldie” Goldschmidt, the reigning NL MVP, looming in the on-deck circle. He made a confession, emphasizing how significant that historic moment was. “and I’m in the outfield like focused but at the same time I’m like a fan,” the 27-year-old admitted.
For a professional athlete to admit that while talking about a championship game is remarkable. That showdown was so legendary it shattered the typical boundaries of competition. Echoing a sentiment from manager Benji Gil, Nootbaar further added, “Baseball won last night, and I think with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout ending the game the way they did — I think baseball won again.”
While Japan’s victory was a moment of national pride for Nootbaar, it also gifted the entire sport an unforgettable spectacle between Ohtani and Trout.
The ultimate showdown: Ohtani vs. Trout
The ninth-inning drama began as soon as Ohtani came to the mound. He walked the leadoff hitter, Jeff McNeil, and put the tying-run on base. The pressure was immense. Ohtani would later acknowledge he was “a little bit disappointed” with the walk. But he quickly refocused. He also got a key double-play ball from the next hitter, Mookie Betts. This cleared the bases and set up the one-on-onebattle everyone in the world had been waiting for: Ohtani vs. Trout with the championship on the line.
The at-bat was pure theater. Ohtani and Trout dueled to a full 3-2 count. Wild fastballs burned up the radar gun at 100 mph. The suspense was almost unbearable. In his final pitch, Ohtani had thrown a vicious, 87 mph slider. The pitch tailed away from the plate at the last moment.
Trout swung through it for the third strike. Japan had won. The final pitch was later described as being so perfect that it literally broke the 20-80 scale.
This victory wasn’t just about Ohtani’s arm; it was about his heart and leadership. Before the game, he delivered a powerful speech to his teammates. “Let’s stop admiring them,” he urged. “If you admire them, you can’t surpass them… For one day, let’s throw away our admiration for them and just think about winning.”
Shohei was “Mr. Everything” for Japan, leading with his words and then backing them up with his legendary performance on the biggest stage. He truly put his country on his back.
In the end, the Ohtani-Trout showdown was more than just a great play; it was a defining moment for the sport.
Fans, for years to come, will talk about where they were when Ohtani struck out Trout. Nootbaar was, however, out in the center field, watching on and by his own admission – as a fan.
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