The sports world was absolutely locked in on Tuesday night. Superstar baseball players Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani squared off in an epic showdown at the plate.
Team USA and Team Japan met in an incredible 2023 World Baseball Classic final. Trout and Ohtani, teammates on the Los Angeles Angels, were poised to face each other in a ‘dream matchup’ of pitcher vs. hitter in the top stanza of the ninth inning.
Many were giddy about the battle between Trout and Ohtani before it even happened.
SHOHEI OHTANI IS COMING IN FROM THE BULLPEN
MIKE TROUT DUE UP 3RD
WBC CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) March 22, 2023
When baseball is great, it is the greatest. At this second, it is the greatest.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 22, 2023
The Angels made sure to let the world that they weren’t well. Don’t worry, Halos. Everyone who was anyone got encapsulated by that drama.
we are not well #GoHalos x @WBCBaseball pic.twitter.com/bfkdSO3fzN
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) March 22, 2023
Future NFL Hall of Famer JJ Watt was fired up, showing the love for the sport across all different spectrums on Tuesday night.
Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout in the 9th inning for the WBC Championship??#WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/LwYWSYv8lp
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 22, 2023
Several on Twitter had a few jokes to lighten the mood while tension built up towards the anticipated at-bat.
big trout in a marlins park
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) March 22, 2023
Tonight I finally find out what Mike Trout looks like
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) March 22, 2023
all this trout vs shohei discourse is hilarious because the angels are going 74-88 this year
— zack (@thefluxandflow) March 22, 2023
Some fans daydreamed about Shohei Ohtani on their team. I mean, really, could you blame anybody for that at this point?
The Cubs should give Ohtani one billion dollars. This isn't a bit.
— Robert O'Neill (@RobertONeill31) March 22, 2023
Robby Kalland suggested some high stakes for the matchup. “Whoever wins the Ohtani-Trout at bat gets freed from the Angels. The other must stay for life. The stakes have never been higher,” Kalland tweeted.
Whoever wins the Ohtani-Trout at bat gets freed from the Angels. The other must stay for life. The stakes have never been higher.
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) March 22, 2023
As the AB approached, Fox’s MLB account posted a shot of Mike Trout looming in the Team USA dugout.
Soon. pic.twitter.com/j9hbTlzRpv
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 22, 2023
Ohtani got former AL MVP Mookie Betts to ground into a crucial double play to put two outs on the board. So that set up the ultimate matchup: Mike Trout versus Shohei Ohtani in the top of the ninth in a 3-2 game. How do you like that?
Top of the ninth. Two outs. One-run game.
Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout.
The dream scenario is happening right now.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/BarbChairScott/status/1638370164742979594
OHTANI VS TROUT TIME
— Po'Boigh King (@JRojo1212) March 22, 2023
Milwaukee TV anchor Dan Molloy was sure to take in the moment as it happened in front of him, much like so many others around.
Trout vs. Ohtani with a world championship on the line 🥲
— Dan Molloy (@DanMolloyTV) March 22, 2023
Ohtani delivered an absolutely nasty slider to strike Trout out on a 3-2 count.
SHOHEI OHTANI STRIKES OUT MIKE TROUT TO CAP OFF AN INCREDIBLE WBC AND GIVE JAPAN THE TITLE! #WorldBaseballClassic ⚾️🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/D4aw3K4mnB
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 22, 2023
The beautiful pitch left many like Thomas Cavanagh in awe.
OH MY GOODNESS THAT SLIDER
— Thomas Cavanagh (@YouFoundTJ) March 22, 2023
Team Japan, who went undefeated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, won their third WBC title after the game.
TEAM JAPAN WINS THEIR THIRD #WorldBaseballClassic CHAMPIONSHIP!! 🇯🇵🏆 pic.twitter.com/mSZYObYQ2M
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 22, 2023
WWE superstar IYO SKY, who attended the WBC Final in Miami, let her feelings be felt about the epic conclusion to the incredible game.
😭✨
— IYO SKY (@Iyo_SkyWWE) March 22, 2023
And we, of course, got a reminder that tonight those jokes will fly and Mike Trout won’t hear the end of it anytime soon.
Before the jokes fly, that was some incredible theater man. Insane.
Even if folks gonna say Mike Trout hates America more than the Red Skull now.
— Po'Boigh King (@JRojo1212) March 22, 2023
