From Thursday, November 12th to Sunday, November 15th, the "Raxus Asia Professional baseball Championship 2026" will be held at Tokyo Dome. Under the new manager Tadahito Iguchi, who has experience managing Chiba Lotte Marines, 28 young warriors with both potential and proven track records have gathered. This time, we introduce 10 fielder from the Pacific League.

★Click here for the pitcher edition

Taiga Kojima (Saitama Seibu Lions)
number: 7
Major International Tournament Experience: 45th Japan-USA University baseball Championship (2025), 31st Haarlem baseball Week (2024), 43rd Prague baseball Week (2024)

From his rookie year, Taiga Kojima completed the full season in the first team as a core player for the team. He recorded a batting average of .267 in 99 games, and the "invincibility myth" in games where he hit a Home Run is particularly impressive. Out of his 9 total Home Run, 4 were game-winning hits, highlighting his clutch performance.

In his third year of university, he won the MVP at the "31st Haarlem baseball Week." In the following year's "45th Japan-USA University baseball Championship," he was in the starting line-up for all 5 games, leading the batting lineup with 6 hit in 17 At Bat, 2 RBI, and a .353 batting average. In this tournament as well, we look forward to seeing if he can produce a game-deciding hit.

Yuya Shindo (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham)
number: 33
Major International Tournament History: 44th Japan-USA University baseball Championship (2023), 30th Haarlem Baseball Week 2022 (2022)

For the two years until last season, his batting average was below .100, but in this his third season, his power hitting blossomed following his first professional Home Run hit in the game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on May 13th. In September, he improved his condition toward the end of the season with 9 hit, 4 Home Run, 7 RBI in 31 At Bat, and a monthly batting average of .290. He also possesses the skill to execute small ball tactics, such as successfully pulling off a 2-run squeeze in the game against Saitama Seibu Lions on the 13th of the same month, which will likely pose a threat to opponents facing him for the first time.

Furthermore, during his university days in the "44th Japan-USA University baseball Championship," where he started in all 5 games, he formed a battery with Saitama Seibu Lions Natsuki Takeuchi pitcher. Will they be reunited in the professional world?

Rui Muneyama (Tohoku Rakuten Eagles)
number: 1
Major International Tournament History: CARNEXT SAMURAI JAPAN SERIES 2024 JAPAN vs EUROPE (2024), 44th Japan-USA University baseball Championship (2023), 30th Haarlem Baseball Week 2022 (2022)

In the "CARNEXT SAMURAI JAPAN SERIES 2024 JAPAN vs EUROPE," Muneyama was selected for the top team alongside players like Misho Nishikawa while still a university student. Although he was unable to play due to injury, he has garnered high attention since his amateur days.

Under such expectations, in his first professional year last season, he reached the required number of plate appearances and won the Best Nine award as a short stop. This season, where further growth was expected, he was delayed by a left triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury suffered during exhibition games. However, in 68 games, he showed his punching power with a .278 batting average, 27 RBI, and 8 Home Run, significantly exceeding the previous year's total. With his stable defense and refined batting, expectations are high for his performance in both offense and defense.

Seiya Watanabe (Saitama Seibu Lions)
number: 8
Major International Tournament History: 31st Haarlem baseball Week (2024), 43rd Prague baseball Week (2024), 44th Japan-USA University baseball Championship (2023)

While registered as an outfielder, Watanabe primarily played as a third baseman this season. For this tournament, he was selected as an infielder. Having gained extensive international experience during his university years and having played as a core member of the team since his first year as a pro, he is expected to be a reliable presence on a stage under heavy pressure.

This season, despite being sidelined due to a left orbital floor fracture, he appeared in 129 games. He recorded a batting average of .255, 12 Home Run, 48 RBI, reaching 100 hit and double-digit Home Run for the second consecutive year. Although he struggled in his first experience in the "PERSOL CS Pa," will he be able to show his true potential in this tournament, which is also a short-term competition?

Yudai Shoji (Fukuoka Softbank)
number: 25
Main International Tournament History: First selection for the national team

This season truly ended with a strong finish. Shoji was named in the starting line-up as a short stop for all seven post-season games. He was awarded the Most Valuable Player award in the "Persol CS Pa" Final Stage. Winning the CS MVP as the number 9 hitter was a historic first-ever achievement.

His momentum did not stop in the "SMBC Japan Series 2026" either. In the first game against Yokohama DeNA held in his hometown of Yokohama, he hit a game-winning RBI doble in the top of the 11th extra inning, and the following day he contributed significantly to the team's consecutive championship with a timely hit for the second game in a row. In this tournament as well, will he be able to lead the batting lineup with his sharpened concentration?

Tomoya Masaki (Fukuoka Softbank)
number: 31
Major International Tournament History: First selection for the national team

Masaki was selected for the national team for the first time as an overage player. In his 5th season this year, he has led the powerful Softbank Hawks lineup as a leadoff hitter. He recorded 7 leadoff Home Run, setting a new club record. He also posted an on-base percentage of .372, fully fulfilling his role.

He appeared in 101 games and reached the required number of plate appearances for the first time in his career. He had a breakthrough year, recording a .274 batting average, 28 Home Run, and 59 RBI. Furthermore, in Game 3 of the "SMBC Japan Series 2026," he hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th extra inning and won the MVP with a series batting average of .438. Carrying that clutch performance from short-term battles, he heads toward his third victory celebration of the season.

Koki Yamaguchi (Chiba Lotte Marines)
number: 51
Main International Tournament History: First selection for the national team

Yamaguchi was selected as an overage player along with Masaki. Although he had no Home Run in March and April, he entered a mass-production phase from May onwards this season. In August, he showed off his overwhelming power, recording 10 Home Run in a single month. In October, with the most Home Run in sight, he recorded 5 Home Run in 6 games.

Ultimately, he finished with 38 Home Run, breaking the club record for the most Home Run since the move to Chiba, capping off a fulfilling season. There is no doubt that the slugger from Makuhari, who set a new record for the first time in 22 years, will attract attention on the international stage among a lineup of powerful hitter.

Shu Yamagata (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham)
number: 54
Major International Tournament History: 31st Haarlem Baseball Week (2024), 43rd Prague Baseball Week (2024)

Yamagata has experienced the international stage since his university days, using his solid defense as a weapon. In this, his second season, although he struggled with his batting immediately after the opening, he produced results in limited plate appearances in July with 5 hits in 12 At Bats over 14 games, and his condition trended upward toward the second half of the season.

In his defense during Game 2 of the "PERSOL CS Pa" Final Stage, he lunged at a ball hit by Ukyo Shuto and completed a double play with a brilliant glove toss. Even in international tournaments where a single mistake can be fatal, there will surely be moments where he saves the team with his strength at the edge of the play.

Shigeaki Chiba Lotte Marines (Misho Nishikawa)
number: 6
Major international tournament appearances: RAGUAS Samurai Japan Series 2025 Japan vs. South Korea (2025), 31st Haarlem Baseball Week (2024), 43rd Prague Baseball Week (2024), Carnext Samurai Japan Series 2024 Japan vs. European All-Stars (2024), 44th Japan-USA Collegiate baseball Championship (2023)

During his university days, Nishikawa made his presence felt on the big stage, At Bat 3 hit 7 with 1 RBI in the "Carnext Samurai Japan Series 2024 Japan vs. Europe" and winning the MVP award at the "43rd Prague Baseball Week."

This season, the title of most hit was shared with Ryoma Nishikawa, with the game going down to the wire. Maintaining the talent of last season's Rookie of the Year, he surpassed his previous year's figures in 136 games, batting .290 with 155 hit, 28 doble, 8 Home Run, and 53 RBI. He is expected to play a key role for the Samurai Japan team.

Shinya Hasegawa (Saitama Seibu Lions)
number: 63
Major International Tournament History: First selection for the national team

This season, he was limited to 86 games due to injury, but he recorded 13 Home Runs, marking his first double-digit total and setting a new record for the most Home Runs in a season by a player from a developmental contract. During the Interleague games, he won the MVP with a batting average of .367, the highest among all 12 teams. This was also a first-ever achievement for a player from a developmental contract. Following in the footsteps of Taisei Makihara, will he be able to make a dynamic impact on the international stage from his developmental roots?

In the past, this tournament has featured players who have gone on to take flight on the world stage, such as pitchers Shota Imanaga and Tatsuya Imai. In order to claim the title of Asia's number one for the third consecutive tournament, a squad of 28 Samurai has been assembled, making full use of the overage slots. Keep an eye on the intense battles of these young warriors, which will kick off on Thursday, November 12th.