Seibu Lions On March 23, Sosuke Genda infielder (32) revealed his training in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan, where he has set "back-to-back championships" as his goal for the WBC, his second consecutive appearance.

At the previous tournament in 2011, he broke the little finger on his right hand while returning to base in the first round match against South Korea, but as the starting short stop he made a major contribution to Japan's gold medal win. Even now, three years later, he still vividly remembers the moment of victory he experienced ground, saying, "I don't think I'll ever forget it. It was a beautiful sight."

"It's a great honor to be participating in the WBC for the second time in a row, and I want to do my best to liven up Japan again," said Genda enthusiastically. Of course, his goal is to win back-to-back championships. "I want to win again. There's a sense of tension and more pressure than usual, but that makes it all the more rewarding. I'll do my best to avoid injury this time," he said with a fierce determination.