On the 16th, Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata (50) announced 11 new members to the Japanese national team for the 6th World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March next year. Previously, eight pitcher, including Ohtani of the Dodgers and Kikuchi of the Angels, were announced in advance, but in this second round of announcements, 11 new members have been announced, including pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, a free agent with the Orioles, and infielder Hanshin Tigers Tigers. From Softbank Hawks, last season's Pacific League champions, pitcher Yuki Matsumoto, infielder Taisei Makihara, outfielder Ukyo Shuto, and outfielder Kensuke Kondo have been added, while from Hanshin Tigers, who won the Central Central League, Teru Sato, catcher Seishiro Sakamoto, and outfielder Shota Morishita have been added.
As for the remaining 11 spots, candidates are likely to include already-sold major league players such as Yamamoto of the Dodgers, Okamoto of the Blue Jays, and Murakami of the White Sox, as well as the left-handed duo of Ryuhei Sotani and Taiya Hiroya Miyagi Orix Buffaloes, and Koki Kitayama of Nippon-Ham for the second starting spot.
Manager Ibata explained, "I've been discussing it with my staff for a long time, and we're close to deciding on one catcher, infield, and outfield. We'll thoroughly discuss it and make a decision once we're satisfied." The names being mentioned for the remaining catcher slot are Yakult 's Nakamura Yuhei, who was the "catcher was hoisted up in celebration" at the last tournament, and The Giants' Kishida Yukinori, who is known for his batting.
◆ WBC Japan National Team Members (★ indicates 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
Related News
・ Yoshinobu Yamamoto's "boyfriend" Kenya Wakatsuki of Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes selected for WBC for the first time, reviving the strongest battery
・ WBC Samurai roster announcement: Who will fill the remaining 11 spots? Why haven't the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto and other major league players been announced?
・ Teruaki Sato makes his WBC debut. Manager Ibata says, "He has the longest driving distance in Japanese baseball," and "We're looking forward to a long hit." Despite overlapping position with Okamoto and Murakami, he won two Central League titles last season.
・ 11 players announced for Japan's WBC team, including Tomoyuki Sugano, Teruaki Sato, and Shota Morishita... Total roster now at 19 [List of roster]
・ "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.
