Shohei Ohtani opens World Baseball Classic with explosive grand slam as Japan annihilates Taiwan

Shohei Ohtani started the World Baseball Classic off with a boom. 

The Team Japan captain hit a grand slam in the second inning of Friday's opening game against Taiwan, en route to a 13-0 blowout win. 

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"I knew it was going to leave the park right away after I hit it," Ohtani told reporters after the game. "It’s important to score first."

The superstar thanked fans after the game. 

"It was a good game, and we got off to a good start...