Trout reveals advice for USA teammates facing Ohtani in WBC

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) and center fielder Mike Trout (27) celebrate the victory against the New York Yankees at Angel Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Trout reveals advice for USA teammates facing Shohei Ohtani in WBC

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 2/9/23

Next month, Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout will lead Team USA as the best in the sport come together for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

In a tourney that will pit MLB teammates against one another, Trout was asked on Thursday during an appearance on MLB Network if he had any advice for his U.S. brethren should they have to face his Angels teammate, Shohei Ohtani.

Trout offered little in the way of wisdom.

"I don't even know what to tell them," Trout said. "I'm watching him from center field pitching, he's got the best stuff in the league, I think. I don't think I've talked to anyone in the league that wants to face that dude."

"I'm extremely excited and very humbled to wear that USA across my chest."

Team USA captain @MikeTrout spoke about getting to represent his country after missing out in 2017 (and the big game on Sunday!)@Angels | @USABaseball | #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/IWr3YNgNmq
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 9, 2023

Having to encounter Ohtani on the mound is challenging enough, but as Trout and everyone else knows, the Japanese superstar also must be dealt with at the plate. However, much like Trout's advice for his teammates in the box, he was similarly useless when giving his pitchers tips on facing Ohtani with a bat.

"He's got very little weaknesses," Trout said. "Nothing comes to me even off the top of my head, the weakness for him."

Luckily for Trout and the Americans, they won't have to face Ohtani and Japan until the semifinals, should both teams advance.

Ohtani and Trout might not be teammates for long. Following last month's announcement that Angels owner Arte Moreno was taking the team off the market, the odds of Ohtani staying with the organization long-term took a nosedive.

The 28-year-old will be eligible for free agency next offseason. Ohtani will reportedly seek a deal worth as much as $500 million next winter. Some teams, like the New York Mets, are already preparing to make the Ohtani an offer.

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