Czech electrician makes triumphant WBC return after striking out Shohei Ohtani

The World Baseball Classic is underway in Japan, with Major League Baseball’s biggest names taking part – and giving the incredible spectacle of playing against part-time players

Czech electrician Ondrej Satoria made his triumphant return to the World Baseball Classic against Australia on Friday, three years on after striking out Japan, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Satoria, an electrician by day, created headlines three years ago after he struck Ohtani out on three pitches in the third inning — the third a 72.1 mph changeup that drew an ugly swing from one of MLB’s best players, who won the World Series the last two campaigns with the Dodgers. The lifelong memory came despite Satoria surrendering three runs in his team’s 10-2 loss. Ohtani is one of the leading contenders to be the tournament’s MVP, though there are a host of big-name players taking part.

The pair later met, with Ohtani asking Satoria for a Czech jersey signed by him and his teammates. “It’s like the peak of my career,” Satoria told The Japan Times in 2024 on the Ohtani strikeout. “But I have to be honest, in that moment, I didn’t realize that it was him. I’m just thinking about the hitter.

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“My sequence was fastball, outside change-up and change-up in the dirt. When I released the third one, I just said to myself, ‘Oh s–—, that’s a terrible pitch.

“It was spiked in the dirt. And he swung and I was just, ‘Oh, he swung at it?’ It was pure happiness for me.”

Now, Satoria returned for the Czechs, pitching in the 5-1 defeat to Australia. The European team took an early 1-0 lead thanks to second baseman Vojtech Mensik. However, the Aussies sealed victory by helping shut out the Czechs inside Tokyo Dome.

Satoria pitched a scoreless 3 2/3 innings of relief with three strikeouts. As a collective, the Czechs failed to score in seven innings, leaving manager Pavel Chadim unsatisfied.

“Today, we had seven scoreless innings,” Chadim said. “We were close to having eight scoreless innings if we had just that one catch at first.

“We didn’t have a double play, and without that double play, you don’t have such a big chance to win. That’s the best friend of a pitcher, and Tomáš Ondra needed this friend.”

“I don’t want to say that this game was super bad,” Chadim continued. “We were close. I think it was an easy game for Australia, but I am proud that we showed that we are part of this tournament.

“It’s not easy to be amateurs, to be from Europe and play with the best guys in the world. If we continue [playing as we have in these first] two performances, I feel we have a chance.”

Chadim reflected on the Czech’s 2023 WBC. It was their inaugural WBC and felt the support from Japan and the baseball community, which helped grow the sport in the country.

“Three years ago after WBC 2023, it was something amazing,” Chadim said. “We feel the support from Japan, from NPB, from Mr. Hideki Kuriyama.

“It’s so, so nice, and we feel like a younger brother. We feel supported, we feel protected, and it has sped up our baseball [development.]”