It was announced on the 4th that Orix catcher Kenya Wakatsuki (30) has been selected as a member of the Samurai Japan warm-up match "LUXAS Samurai Japan Series 2025 Japan vs. Korea" to be held at Tokyo Dome on November 15th and 16th. This will be his second time representing Japan since the 2017 Asian Professional baseball Championship. There is a good chance that he will join The Giants' Kishida and Hanshin Tigers 's Sakamoto in the race for the starting catcher position at the World Baseball Classic in March next year.
Wakatsuki is injury resistant and has a reputation for his high defense ability to take advantage of his strong shoulders. In his 12th year as a pro, he won the competition with Mori and took the starting mask in 98 games. He played in 120 games during the season and hit .277 with a 6 Home Run and 31 RBI runs batted in three times, tying the team record walk-off for most in a season. He was selected for the Samurai Japan team along with Sotani, a third-year left-hander who won eight games as a starter.
It is his 30th birthday. He is one hit away from his first 100 of the season for the first time in his career. Rakuten game (Rakuten mobile) on the 5th will be his final game of the season. The Dodgers' Yamamoto, who may participate in the WBC, has won the best battery award three years in a row since Orix his 21 years with the Dodgers and has contributed twice no hitter. The "wife who knows Yushin inside and out" will also make her presence felt with manager Ibata.
◆ Wakatsuki Kenya: Born October 4, 1995 in Kazo City, Saitama. 30 years old. While at Hanasaki Tokuharu High School, he lost in the first round at Koshien in the spring of his third year. U-18 Japan National Team member. Joined Orix as the third pick in the 2013 draft. Has won the Best Battery Award with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (currently with the Dodgers) for three consecutive years since 2021. Received his first Golden Glove Award in 2023. 180 cm, 88 kg. Throws and bats right-handed. Annual salary: 130 million yen (estimated).
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