On the 16th, Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata (50) announced the 11 additional members of the Japanese national team that will be competing in the 6th World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, and Orix Buffaloes catcher Kenya Wakatsuki (30) was selected. This will be Ogi no Kaname's first time competing in a major international tournament, and he said with enthusiasm, "I will do my best to prepare for the tournament so that I can contribute even a little to the team's win."

Wakatsuki joined Orix Buffaloes in 2013 as the third overall pick in the draft from Hanasaki Tokuei High School (Saitama). While catcher such as Ito (currently Rakuten Eagles) and Fushimi (currently Hanshin Tigers) were also on the team, he earned his first opening day starting starting line-up in 2017 and played in 100 games for the first time. In 2019, he played in a career-high 138 games. After that, his playing time decreased due to the addition of Tongu and Mori, and he did not reach 100 games again, but he played in 121 games last season. He also posted a batting average of .272 and was selected as a member of the team for the November exhibition game "Ragzas Samurai Japan Series 2025 Japan vs. Korea".

Wakatsuki is also expected to play for Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (27), as he knows him very well. Although it hasn't been officially announced yet, Yamamoto is expected to join Samurai Japan. Wakatsuki and Yamamoto were battery mates until 2023 when Yamamoto was with Orix Buffaloes, and from 2021 they both won the Best Battery Award for three consecutive years. The Major League players are likely to join the team just before the tournament, and there is a high possibility that catcher will be going into the WBC with almost no practice catching balls. In that situation, Wakatsuki, who knows Yamamoto inside and out and is expected to be an ace, will be a reassuring presence.

catcher is such an important position during a game that he's often called the "manager on ground." Last December, he said with sparkling eyes, "I want to prepare as if I'm going to be selected. I think it will be an experience beyond my imagination, so if I am selected, I'm really looking forward to it." This will be his first appearance in a major international tournament, but he will be the linchpin of the team, aiming for the world championship.

◆ Wakatsuki Kenya Born on October 4th, 1995 in Kazo City, Saitama. 30 years old. Played in the Spring Koshien tournament as a third-year student at Hanasaki Tokuharu High School. U-18 Japan national team member. Joined Orix Buffaloes as the third pick in the 2013 draft. Won the Best Battery Award with Yamamoto Yoshinobu (currently with the Dodgers) for three consecutive years from 2021. Golden Glove Award in 2023 and 2025, and Best Nine in 2025. 180 cm, 88 kg. Throws and bats right-handed. Annual salary is 180 million yen (estimated).

◆ 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. Kaima 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