"Embodiment of Samurai Spirit" Sosuke Genda to Play in 2nd Consecutive WBC Tournament... Forced to Play in 2023 Tournament after Broken Leg | Pacific League

"Embodiment of the Samurai Spirit" Sosuke Genda will compete in the WBC for the second consecutive tournament... He will force himself to play in the 2023 tournament after breaking a bone.

Sports Hochi

2026.1.16(金) 12:00

　侍ジャパンの井端弘和監督（５０）が１６日、３月の第６回ワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（ＷＢＣ）に出場する日本代表メンバー１１人を追加発表し、西武の源田壮亮内野手（３２）が選出された。２０２３年の前回大会は正遊撃手として選出され、骨折しながら優勝に貢献。２大会連続出場となるベテランは「自分に求められる役割をしっかり理解し、チームの勝利につながるプレーを一つひとつ積み重ねていきたいです」とコメントした。

short stop Genda, one of the most defense powerful players in Japanese baseball, contributed to the gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics in 2009 and made his first appearance in the WBC in 2011. He broke the little finger on his right hand when he returned to second base against Korea in the first round, but he volunteered and continued to play in the tournament, contributing to the first championship in three games. In the semifinal against Mexico, he created momentum for a comeback win with a play that turned the tide: with three runs behind and one out in the seventh inning, he defense hitter The first baseman, who had struck out started the inning, made a tricky move by sliding headfirst into second base runner and pulling his left hand back to avoid Genda's touch. Once ruled safe, it was ruled out on replay verification. Genda's glove touched Genda's left foot at the moment when runner 's right hand, which once touched the base, left slightly, and it was called "Genda's 1 mm".

Although he struggled last season with a batting average of .290 in 104 games, he was selected for the national team due to his solid defense and extensive experience. When Coach Ibata contacted him last fall, he said, "He said he wanted to train again, and wanted to participate in fall practice. So we discussed that he would train hard again." Immediately after the last tournament, this master player vowed to "be selected again in three years," and will once again compete with the aim of becoming the world's best.

◆Genda Sosuke: Born February 16, 1993 in Oita Prefecture. 32 years old. Never played Koshien while at Oita Commercial High School. Moved to Toyota Motor Corporation from Aichi Gakuin University, contributed to the team's first victory in the Intercity Baseball Tournament in 2016, and joined Seibu Lions as the third pick in the draft that same year. In his first year, he was named Rookie of the Year. He was stolen base leader once, was named to the Best Nine four times, and won the Golden Glove Award seven times. He has participated in international competitions such as the Premier 12 in 2019, the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and the WBC in 2023. He is 179 cm tall and weighs 75 kg. He throws right and bats left.

◆ WBC Japan national team members

★ indicates the players announced this time

[pitcher = 10]

1. Yuki Matsui (Padres)

14. Taikai Ito (Nippon-Ham)

15. Large group (The Giants)

16. Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)

17 Yusei Kikuchi (Angels)

19. Tomoyuki Sugano (Orioles free agent)

26. Atsuki Taneichi (Lotte)

61 Kaiba Taira (Seibu Lions)

66 ★ Yuki Matsumoto (Softbank Hawks)