MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani calls Miami's loanDepot Park, the site of the knockout rounds of this year's World Baseball Classic, one of his favorite stadiums.
It's not hard to imagine why. It's the place where he delivered two of baseball's quintessential moments from the last few years.
It's the ballpark where, on Sept. 19, 2024, he entered — created, really — baseball's 50-50 club. All Ohtani did that night: go 6 for 6, hit three home runs, steal two bases, drive in 10 runs, become the first player ever to reach 50 homers and 50 steals in a season. And if that wasn't enough, the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a playoff berth that night to officially begin down the path of what has become back-to-back World Series titles.
And in 2023, the last time he wore the Japan uniform in Miami, Ohtani delivered the knockout punch in the WBC — striking out Mike Trout, his then-teammate with the Los Angeles Angels, on a full-count curve to seal Japan's 3-2 win over the U.S. in the title game.
Ohtani is back, and so is Japan, looking for another title. They worked out on the Miami Marlins' field Thursday, two days before they'll take on Venezuela in a WBC quarterfinal game.
“This is the place I have very good memories,” Ohtani said through an interpreter Thursday.
Ohtani has won three consecutive MVP awards — one in the AL, then two in the NL since joining the Dodgers — and was the AL's MVP in 2021 as well. That's four in five seasons, something only Barry Bonds (who won four of his seven MVPs consecutively) has done in baseball history.
All four of Ohtani's MVP awards have come in unanimous votes. He was MVP of the 2023 WBC as well, and if Japan — the only three-time champion in the event's history — wins again, Ohtani will have yet another reason to celebrate in Miami.
It won't end exactly the same way this year, since Ohtani isn't pitching in this year's WBC, but another title — however it arrives — would be good enough. He likes Miami, likes the memories he has there, but knows it's time to create new ones.
“Of course, I’m not going to bring memories to the next game," Ohtani said. "But I think there is a very positive influence to myself.”
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Japan's Shohei Ohtani warms up before the start of the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic game between Japan and the Czech Republic on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Shohei Ohtani catches a ball as he warms up before the start of the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game between Japan and the Czech Republic on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Shohei Ohtani stands in the dugout before the start of the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game between Japan and the Czech Republic on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
A man armed with a rifle rammed a vehicle into a major synagogue in a Detroit suburb and was fatally shot by security, The Associated Press has learned.
That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday. The vehicle caught on fire after crashing into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, the person said.
The person could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
“No kids or no staff were injured whatsoever,” Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said. He said one security officer was hit by the vehicle but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Synagogues around the world have increased security and protections for worshippers since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran on Feb. 28.
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The president said at a White House event marking Women’s History Month, “I want to send our love to the Michigan Jewish community and all of the people” in the Detroit area.
Trump added, “It’s a terrible thing, but it goes on” and said that authorities would be working to get “right down to the bottom of it.”
“It’s absolutely incredible that things like this happen,” Trump said.
He then returned to his prepared remarks, without providing details on the investigation.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, a survivor of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, said the Michigan attack demonstrates yet again the consequences of hatred.
“We lose our humanity when we seek violent means as a solution,” Myers said in a statement. “No one should dwell in fear because of who they are.”
Myers is rabbi of the Tree of Life Congregation, where 11 worshippers from three congregations were killed in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. The gunman is now on death row.
It was not immediately known who carried out the attack or a possible motive.
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is condemning the incident.
“There is no justification for anyone to direct violence toward any house or worship or religious institution,” it said in a statement.
Investigators were still working to identify the man and a possible motive for the attack, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
The person cautioned that the investigation was still in the early stages.
CAIR is a Muslim civil right and advocacy organization.
Authorities said none of those who attended were injured.
“No kids or no staff were injured whatsoever,” Oakland County Sheriff Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s office cleared the building and about a dozen parents sprinted to get their children from the early childhood learning center inside. West Bloomfield School District went on lockdown.
Police say a security guard was injured after a car crashed into a synagogue outside Detroit on Thursday.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said a person drove a car through Temple Israel’s doors and was driving down the hall with “purpose” and struck a security guard.
Security personnel opened fire on the vehicle, Bouchard said.
One person was found dead in the car although Bouhchard said it’s unclear how that person died. The injured security guard was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive, Bouchard said.
Synagogues around the world have been on edge and ramping up security since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran with missile strikes on Feb. 28.
The FBI has warned that Iranian operatives may be planning drone attacks on targets in California. Two men brought explosives Saturday to a far-right protest outside the New York mayoral mansion on Saturday. Investigators allege they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group.
In a similar incident to what happened in West Bloomfield Township, an assailant drove a car into people outside an Orthodox synagogue in Manchester, England, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year in October. He stabbed two people to death before officers shot and killed him.
The vehicle caught on fire after crashing into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday.
Investigators were still working to identify the man and a possible motive for the attack. The person cautioned that the investigation is still in the early stages
The person could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
Oakland County Sheriff Sheriff Mike Bouchard confirmed during an earlier news conference that security at the synagogue had engaged in gunfire with at least one person, and that no one was in custody.
A man armed with a rifle rammed a vehicle into the nation’s largest Reform synagogue, a source tells The Associated Press. The attack occurred at Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township.
A man armed with a rifle rammed a vehicle into a major synagogue in a Detroit suburb and was fatally shot by security. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person said the vehicle caught on fire after crashing into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township.
Investigators are still working to identify the man and a possible motive for the attack. The person cautioned that the investigation is still in the early stages The person could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
Law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
A woman gathers children as law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
Law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
People gather near Temple Israel synagogue on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in West Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
Law enforcement respond to a call at Temple Israel synagogue, Thursday, March 12, 2026 in West Bloomfield Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Corey Williams)
