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、ソフトバンク・牧原大成内野手（３３）が選出された。「背負うものは大きいですが、自分のスタイルで思い切っていければ」と決意を示した。
He has truly become a member of Samurai Japan. At the 2023 WBC, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (31) withdrew due to an injury to his left side just before the tournament. He did not participate in the Miyazaki training camp in February, joining the team just before the tournament, and played in five games, with one hit in two At Bat. However, he was selected for this tournament after being the leading hitter last season with a batting average of .304. He has once again earned the right to aim for the world championship.
He is expected to be a valuable utility player in international tournaments. Last season, he was named to the Best Nine and won the Golden Glove Award as a second second baseman, but he has also played first base, third base, shortstop, and outfield with Softbank Hawks. Of course, he is expected to starting line-up at second base or center field, but he is also capable of filling in at any position in the event of an injury or other accident involving a key player, or if they are performing poorly during the tournament. He can also make his presence felt as a super sub.
For the management, there is no one more reassuring than a player who can play many positions at a high level and who also has hitting power, especially in international tournaments where the number of players and rotations are limited.He will take to the world stage prepared to play any role.
◆Makihara Taisei: Born October 15, 1992 in Fukuoka Prefecture. 33 years old. Joined Softbank Hawks as the 5th pick in the 2010 development draft from Johoku High School in Kumamoto. Registered as a regular player in June 2012. Participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In 2013, he became the first hitter from the development team to become the batting champion, and was named to the Best Nine and Golden Glove Award at second base. In total, he played in 878 games, hit 26 Home Run, had 228 RBI, 79 stolen base, and had a batting average of .275. He is 172 cm tall and weighs 72 kg. He throws right-handed and bats left-handed. His annual salary this season is estimated at 150 million yen.
◆ 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)
69 Daichi Ishii (Hanshin Tigers)
[catcher = 2]
4. Kenya Wakatsuki (Orix Buffaloes)
12 ★ Seishiro Sakamoto (Hanshin Tigers)
[infielder = 4]
2. Hideto Maki (DeNA)
5. Taisei Makihara (Softbank Hawks)
6. Sosuke Genda (Seibu Lions)
7 ★ Teruaki Sato (Hanshin Tigers)
[outfielder = 3]
8. Kensuke Kondo (Softbank Hawks)
20 ★ Yukio Shuto (Softbank Hawks)
23 ★ Shota Morishita (Hanshin Tigers)
*The number before the name is number
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・ Kazuma Okamoto not included in the WBC advance announcement squad... in negotiations to move to the majors
・ Seibu Lions' Kaima Taira to participate in WBC: "I will fight with the responsibility and pride of carrying the Japanese flag in my heart," but will decline to participate in the 2023 tournament
・ Taito Ishii will wear the same number 69 as Hanshin Tigers, making him the "biggest" Japanese player to ever play in the WBC
