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The Tokyo Dome generated an electric moment Tuesday during the 2026 World Baseball Classic for a Czech electrical worker who just so happened to become a fan favorite pitcher in Japan.
Ondřej Satoria, 29, received a curtain call in his final WBC appearance. While Czechia finished Pool C play 0-4 and dropped its final game 9-0 to defending tournament champion Japan, the right-handed pitcher threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
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It was quite the encore performance three years after he famously struck out Shohei Ohtani, a world icon and one of the most impressive athletes in sports history.
So when Satoria walked off the field for the final time in his WBC career, it was fitting that he heard a symphony of applause from Japanese fans providing a standing ovation for one of the event’s lesser-known stars.
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As for that fateful moment in the 2023 WBC when Satoria punched out Ohtani, it didn’t necessarily go as planned. Satoria misfired on his changeup, as reported by MLB.com. It was headed for the dirt and only at 72 mph. His fastball, after all, isn’t that far north of 80 mph.
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But the misplaced pitch threw off Ohtani, who was already in an 0-2 hole. He swung and missed so badly that his helmet started to fall off like it would in a cartoon.
Ohtani went on to win the WBC that year, striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to clinch the title. Over the next three MLB seasons, he collected three MVP awards and two World Series rings.
But for one at-bat, Satoria had him fooled. And that moment made Satoria something of a celebrity in Japan, where he’s asked to sign balls and take photos with fans.
Ohtani even asked Satoria for a jersey back in 2023.
Satoria works as an electrical controller at ČEZ Group in Ostrava, which is located on the border of Poland, per MLB.com.
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Many of his teammates also work day jobs. He admits that he’s not nearly as noticeable in his home country.
Satoria said the attention he has garnered in Japan is “like a reward for my whole life playing baseball because nobody knows me in Czechia,” according to MLB.com.
He added, via MLB.com: “I’m just a regular dude from Ostrava, but here they respect me and have me sign balls. It’s really nice to be back here.”
Although Satoria reportedly plans to continue to pitch for his club in Ostrava, his WBC days are now behind him. He didn’t get a chance to face Ohtani this time around, as Japan’s superstar was resting with a spot in the quarterfinals already secured, but Satoria still brought his best stuff.
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And he was rewarded with a send-off.
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