Ondřej Satoria

Ondřej Satoria
Arrows Ostrava – No. 21
Pitcher
Born: (1997-02-26) 26 February 1997
Ostrava, Czech Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Czech Republic
European Championship
2025 Rotterdam Team

Ondřej Satoria (born 26 February 1997) is a Czech professional baseball pitcher for Arrows Ostrava of the Czech Baseball Extraliga. He represents the Czech Republic national team in international competition. Despite popular international reporting, he is not a part-time electrical worker, but rather, a full time electrical engineer.[1][2]

Professional career

Satoria played with Arrows Ostrava in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.[3] At the 2023 European Champions Cup, he pitched nine scoreless innings over two games.[4]

Satoria was recognized as the 2023 Sportsman of the Year by the city of Ostrava.[5]

International career

Satoria was selected to the Czech Republic national team for four different U-23 Baseball World Cups, in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2021. His best performance was in 2021, when he went 11+23 innings pitched with a 1–1 record and a 2.40 ERA.[6] He was again on the Czech roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualifiers, working a scoreless 23 innings.[7]

At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Satoria made a single appearance in a start against heavily favored Japan; he allowed three runs over three innings of work, taking the loss in the 10–2 defeat.[8] Nevertheless, he made international headlines when he struck out three Samurai Japan players: Lars Nootbaar, Kensuke Kondoh, and Shohei Ohtani.[9][10][11] The strikeout of Ohtani, considered the best player in the world, by a player believed to be a part-time electrician was described by The Japan Times as "one shining moment" where "David toppled Goliath."[12]

Satoria was also part of the Czech roster for the 2023 European Baseball Championship.[13]

Satoria returned to the Czech National Team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he pitched 813 innings with a 0.00 ERA.[14] In his final career game for the Czech National Team, Satoria threw 423 scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing only six hits.[15] He received a standing ovation from both the fans and Samurai Japan players.[16]

References

  1. ^ [https://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/pitcher-struck-out-shohei-ohtani-world-baseball-classic-electrician/745616
  2. ^ https://x.com/baseballczech_/status/2032397990707466622
  3. ^ "Ondřej Satoria". Stats.baseball.cz. WBSC.
  4. ^ "Ondřej Satoria". WBSC Europe.org. WBSC.
  5. ^ "Sportovec roku Ostravy je Ondřej Satoria" (in Czech). POSITIV. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Ondřej Satoria". WBSC.org.
  7. ^ "Pitching Stats - Czech Republic". MLB.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Pitching Stats - Czech Republic". MLB.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Czechia v. Japan Play-by-Play". ESPN. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Czech electrician strikes out Shohei Ohtani; Angels star asks for his jersey". ESPN. 14 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Czech pitcher who struck out Shohei Ohtani cherishes memories and souvenirs". The Japan Times. 14 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Ondrej Satoria reflects on electric WBC showdown against Shohei Ohtani". The Japan Times. 14 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Chceme skončit vítězně, říká Satoria. Baseballisté si zahrají o páté místo z mistrovství Evropy s Izraelem" (in Czech). Czech Radio. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  14. ^ https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/pitching
  15. ^ "Czechia's viral electrical worker 'Jedi' who K'd Ohtani bids farewell to Classic". MLB.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Team Japan and the Tokyo Dome give Ondřej Satoria a standing ovation after his incredible performance in his final career game for Czechia".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)