“大谷翔平をいじれる男”近藤健介、ＷＢＣ決定　主要大会３連覇中のＶ請負人「翔平にはもう一度頑張ってもらいましょう」｜パ・リーグ.com

“大谷翔平をいじれる男”近藤健介、ＷＢＣ決定　主要大会３連覇中のＶ請負人「翔平にはもう一度頑張ってもらいましょう」

Sports Hochi

2026.1.16(金) 12:00

On the 16th, Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata (50) announced the addition of 11 members to the Japanese national team that will participate in the 6th World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, with Softbank Hawks outfielder Kensuke Kondo (32) being included in the team for the second consecutive tournament.

　「ＷＢＣという大舞台で、また日の丸を背負って戦えるということをうれしく思います。今大会は連覇というところが目標となりますし、そこに向けて力になれるようにしたいです。日本代表に選出していただいたことに感謝と責任感をもって全力で戦っていきます。そして、翔平（大谷）にはもう一度頑張ってもらいましょう」とコメントした。

Kondo has been a "championship contractor" in major international tournaments, having reached the top of each of them, including the 2019 Premier 12, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he played in every game as the second batter and right fielder, batting before Ohtani, and made his presence felt by contributing to the team's victory with 9 hits At Bat 26 hit for a batting average of .346.

Kondo also played a valuable role as "the guy who can tease Ohtani." While many players were meeting Ohtani for the first time, as a senior who played with him at Nippon-Ham, he remained frank and honest, acting as a mediator between Ohtani and the other members and contributing to the team's unity. Kondo's role is likely to be important in allowing Ohtani to play freely without having to worry about anything.

His skills are impeccable. Although there have been seasons in which he did not reach the required number of at-bats, the only time since 2017 that he has had a batting average below .300 was in 2021, when he had a .298 batting average. In 2023, he was crowned Home Run and RBI leader, adding his power to his slugging and competitive spirit to his arsenal. Although he underwent back surgery after the start of last season, he still managed a .301 batting average, 10 Home Run, and 41 RBI in 75 games. As fielder, he will be 32 years old at the time of the tournament, behind only 33-year-olds Makihara (Softbank Hawks) and Genda (Seibu Lions), and he will lead the team and aim for the top again.

Manager Ibata revealed that he had been concerned about Kondo's condition, saying, "I've been in contact with him regularly since December (last year), and even before this announcement. I've been checking his current situation as I go along."

Kensuke Kondo (Kensuke Kondoh) Born August 9, 1993, in Chiba, Japan. 32 years old. He was drafted 4th overall in the 2011 draft by Yokohama High School Nippon-Ham and moved to Softbank Hawks in 2011. MVP, Home Run King, RBI King, and hitter First place, once each. He was a four-time highest baserunner and five-time Best Nine (outfield three times, DH twice). Total of 1361 games played, 107 Home Run, 646 RBI, .370 batting average. 173 cm, 85 kg. He throws right-handed and bats left-handed. His salary this season is an estimated 550 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)