Ondrej Satoria says goodbye to Czech national team after emotional WBC game

PRAGUE: Czech pitcher Ondrej Satoria said an emotional goodbye to the national team after his final appearance at the World Baseball Classic.

The 29-year-old, who is also an electrician in his everyday life, took a moment on the mound to look around the stadium and enjoy the atmosphere before walking off the field one last time in a Czech uniform.

Satoria had already decided that this tournament would be the end of his international career. The pitcher became a fan favorite during the 2023 WBC when he famously struck out Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. In this year’s tournament, he once again impressed by pitching eight scoreless innings across two games.

In his final outing, Czechia faced defending champions Japan national baseball team, also known as Samurai Japan. Despite eventually losing 9–0, the Czech team held Japan scoreless until the eighth inning, showing strong resistance against one of the tournament favorites.

Satoria delivered a solid performance, pitching 4⅔ innings and keeping the powerful Japanese lineup under control for most of the game. When he left the field, the crowd gave him a loud ovation, recognizing his effort and dedication to Czech baseball.

After the game, Satoria returned to the field again to thank the fans. Supporters from both Czechia and Japan applauded him, showing respect for his journey and contribution to the sport.

Although he is stepping away from the national team, Satoria said he will continue playing for his local club. However, his main focus now will be his family, especially raising his young son, along with his work back home in Czechia.

Reflecting on his career, Satoria said he felt proud of what he had accomplished.

“I’m proud that I achieved everything that I wanted,” he said before the game. “I will finish my career here where I made myself famous.”

Meanwhile, Japan finished the pool stage undefeated with a 4–0 record and will advance to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. But for many fans in the stadium that night, the most memorable moment was the farewell of a humble electrician who became one of Czech baseball’s most beloved players.