Japan's manager, Hirokazu Ibata, is stepping down following a disappointing exit from the World Baseball Classic following an 8-5 loss to Venezuela. Despite being considered one of the favorites to win the tournament, Japan's performance was disappointing. Ibata had been Japan's manager since 2023 and expressed his intention to resign following the loss. The team's superstar, Shohei Ohtani, expressed disappointment in their performance and expressed hope for a comeback in the future.