Japan Announces 11 Additional Players for World Baseball Classic
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Team Japan national team manager Hirokazu Ibata announced on the 16th the names of 11 additional players expected to take part in the World Baseball Classic to be held in March.
Seven players, including Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi, had already been announced, and Tomoyuki Sugano was among those newly added this time.
Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers, Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs, Masataka Yoshida of the Red Sox, Munetaka Murakami, who will move to the White Sox next season, and Kazuma Okamoto of the Blue Jays were not selected in this announcement.
Team Japan roster
(As of Jan. 16; ※ indicates members of the 2023 WBC team; players in bold are MLB players; free agents included)
Pitchers
- Daichi Ishii (Hanshin Tigers)
- ※ Hiromi Itoh (Nippon-Ham Fighters)
- ※ Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)
- Yusei Kikuchi (Angels)
- Tomoyuki Sugano (Orioles / FA)
- ※ Taisei (Yomiuri Giants)
- Kaima Taira (Seibu Lions)
- Atsuki Taneichi (Lotte Marines)
- ※ Yuki Matsui (Padres)
- Hiroki Matsumoto (SoftBank Hawks)
Catchers
- Seishiro Sakamoto (Hanshin Tigers)
- Kenya Wakatsuki (Orix Buffaloes)
Infielders
- ※ Sosuke Genda (Seibu Lions)
- Teruaki Sato (Hanshin Tigers)
- ※ Shugo Maki (DeNA BayStars)
- ※ Taisei Makihara (SoftBank Hawks)
Outfielders
- ※ Kensuke Kondo (SoftBank Hawks)
- ※ Yuki Yanagita (SoftBank Hawks)
- Shota Morishita (Hanshin Tigers)
Japan boasts a record three championships in 2006, 2009, and most recently 2023. For this tournament, the roster includes nine players with experience from the previous tournament, led by Ohtani, giving the team a lineup that appears well-equipped in terms of experience.