Shohei Ohtani is one of, if not the most recognizable baseball players on the planet. His card market has soared and he's getting another chance to show his abilities on the global stage as he suits up for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

TOKYO (AP) — This is the Shohei Ohtani effect. Ohtani put on a giant show in batting practice hours before he hit a grand slam in the second inning — in the first he doubled on the first pitch of the game but didn’t score — as Japan hammered Taiwan 13-0 in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic.

Australia's attempt at a massive upset at the WBC came up short, thanks in large part to Masataka Yoshida's two-run home run in the seventh inning.

Shohei Ohtani getting support from Drake and Ann Michael Maye is raising eyebrows among American baseball fans.

There are seven World Baseball Classic games slated for Sunday, which include Japan vs. Australia and the Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands. Both Japan and the DR — the favorites in their respective pools — opened as top contenders to win the tournament behind the United States at +330 and +400,

Especially in the earlier phases of the World Baseball Classic tournament, not all of the games between nations are particularly evenly matched.

Japan's quest to defend its World Baseball Classic title is off to a great start thanks in no small part to Shohei Ohtani's historic performance in Friday's 13-0- win over Chinese Taipei.

TOKYO (AP) — This is the Shohei Ohtani effect. Lia Chan and her husband How and other family members flew in from Singapore — about a seven-hour flight to Tokyo — just to watch Ohtani play in the World Baseball Classic.