The members of Samurai Japan who will participate in the 'Luxas Asia Professional baseball Championship 2026' (November 12-15, Tokyo Dome) were announced on the 7th, and Rakuten Eagles infielder Rui Muneyama was selected.

Muneyama joined the team as the first-round pick in the 2024 draft from Meiji University after a competition between five teams. During his rookie year last season, he appeared in 122 games and was selected for the Best Nine award.

In his second season this year, he suffered a left wrist injury just before the opening of the season. Although he experienced an absence of more than three months, he has shown stable performance since returning to the first team in July. He appeared in 68 games with a .278 batting average, 8 Home Runs, and 27 RBI. His power hitting ability has also improved dramatically.

Expectations are high for him as a short stop with a good balance of offense and defense. Attention is focused on the performance of this candidate for the future regular short stop of Samurai Japan.

Rui Muneyama. Born February 27, 2003, in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima. 23 years old. Started playing baseball with the Mirasaka Junior Baseball Club in his first year at Mirasaka Elementary School, and played for the Koyo Sky Bans while at Mirasaka Junior High School. At Koryo High School, he appeared in Koshien twice, in the summer of his first year and the spring of his second year. At Meiji University, he was selected for the university national team in his second and third years. 175 cm, 79 kg. Right-handed thrower, left-handed hitter.