The "2026 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC"™ will be held in March 2026. 30 players who play in Japan and abroad have been selected as members of the Japanese national team aiming for consecutive championships. This time, I will introduce pitcher 14 people.

☆ Click here for the fielder edition
☆ Director and coach edition is here

Hiroya Miyagi pitcher (Orix Buffaloes ・ The Buffaloes)
number：13
Major international tournaments: 2023 WBC

In Orix Buffaloes, he is an ace left-hander who carries number 18. In 2021, he won a career-high 13 wins and won the Pacific League Rookie of the Year. Until 2023, it marked double-digit win for three consecutive years. Last season, out of 23 appearances, he achieved QS 18 times. He recorded 150.1 innings pitched and 165 strike out, the most in a professional career.

Umi Ito pitcher (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
number：14
Major international tournaments: WBC 2023, Tokyo Olympics 2021

Last year's Sawamura Prize winner pitcher. He won the most Pacific League wins for the second year in a row, and also won the most strike out titles with 195 strike out. As he recorded the league's most 6 complete game &196.2 innings pitched, his toughness also shines. In past international competitions, he has also shown good pitching in relief.

pitcher (Yomiuri Giants)
number：15
Major international tournaments: 2024 Premier12, 2023 WBC

The Giants reliever pitcher throws powerful balls from an irregular form. He was entrusted with closer from his rookie year and made double-digit saves every year, but last year he changed his position to a set upper. He scored 54 hold points and won the Central League 's Best reliever pitcher award.

Yusei Kikuchi pitcher (Los Angeles Angels)
number：17
Major international tournaments: First appearance in the WBC

A left-hander representing Japan, who marked double-digit win in 2023 during his time with the Blue Jays. Last year, when he entered his seventh year in MLB with the Angels, he had a stable ERA of 2.81 as of July and was selected as an All-Star for the first time in four years. In September, he became the fourth Japanese pitcher to reach 1000 strike out in MLB.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitcher (Los Angeles Dodgers)
number：18
Major international tournaments: WBC 2023, Tokyo Olympics 2021, Premier12 2019

Last season, he went 12-8, 201 strike out, and a ERA 2.49, second in the National League. In the World Series, he won the MVP with 3 wins and a historic ERA of 1.02 . The "ace of Japan", who is strong on the big stage, will show off a pitch worthy of his name in this tournament as well.

Tomoyuki Kanno pitcher (Colorado Rockies)
number：19
Major international competitions: Tokyo 2021 Olympics, 2017 WBC, 2015 Premier12

In 2024, he won the most wins, highest winning percentage, and MVP in The Giants, and challenged MLB off. Last year, when he was 35 years old rookie, he became the 10th Japanese pitcher to achieve double-digit win in his first year. It is his first WBC appearance in two tournaments, showing the pride of a veteran.

Atsuki Taneichi pitcher（Chiba Lotte Marines）
number：26
Major international tournaments: First appearance in the WBC

Last season, he threw 160.2 innings pitched, the most in a professional career, and also recorded 161 strike out. In 2023, it hit a strike out rate of 10.34. His pitch technique of controlling a fastball and a fork to build a mountain of struck out will be a strength on the big stage as well.

Hiroto Takahashi pitcher (Chunichi Dragons)
number：28
Major international tournaments: 2024 Premier12, 2023 WBC

In 2024, when he won the most 12 wins as a professional, he won his first title with a ERA of 1.38. Last season, he played the opening pitcher and recorded 171.2 innings pitched &138 strike out, which is second in the league. In the last tournament final he played at the age of 20, he took struck out from Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt of the United States. This time, he should show even more growth.

Ryuhei Sotani pitcher (Orix Buffaloes ・ The Buffaloes)
number：47
Major international tournaments: First appearance in the WBC

Along with Hiroya Miyagi pitcher, he is a left-hander who plays a part in Orix Buffaloes 's starting rotation. Although he has not had a double-digit win after three seasons as a professional, he showed his strengths with a strike out percentage of 8.85, including 12 struck out in six innings in the Hanshin Tigers game on June 11, 2024. His career strike out rate is also 8.32, which is a good number.

Koki Kitayama pitcher（Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters）
number：57
Major international appearances: First appearance in the WBC, Premier12 in 2024

In his rookie year of 2022, he appeared in 55 games for reliever, recording 16 hold 9 saves and a strike out percentage of 10.17. Last season, which was his third year as a starter, he reached the regulation for the first time with 149 innings pitched, the most in a professional position. He also had a good ERA of 1.63, second only to the Cuban national team Liván Moinelo pitcher (Fukuoka Softbank).

Yuki Matsumoto pitcher（Fukuoka Softbank Hawks）
number：66
Major international tournaments: First appearance in the WBC

reliever right-hander who helped Fukuoka Softbank win the league last year. He has appeared in more than 50 games for three consecutive years, especially last season, with a ERA 1.07 and 50.2 innings pitched and only 6 runs. It won the Best reliever pitcher award for the first time with 44 hold points. In the Japan Series, it is also a torso raising pitcher.

*Additional call-up*
Shoma Fujihira pitcher（Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles）
number：46
Major international appearances: First appearance in the WBC, Premier12 in 2024

In place of Kaima Taira pitcher, who withdrew due to a muscle strain in his left calf, Tohoku Rakuten Eagles reliever was additionally selected. In 2024, he posted a 20-hold and ERA 1.75 in 47 games, and in the Premier12 that same year, he pitched 12 strike out runs earned in 6 games. Last season, he pitched in 62 games, a career-high 62 games, and played an active role as a set upper and closer with 21 hold, 12 saves, and a ERA 2.11 ERA.

Chihiro Sumida pitcher（Saitama Seibu Lions）
number：22
Major international appearances: First appearance in the WBC, 2024 Premier12

Daichi Ishii pitcher withdrew from the game due to a left Achilles tendon injury, and was elected as a substitute for the left starter. In the 2025 season, he started 23 games and posted his first double-digit win with a ERA 2.59 ERA, 10 wins and 10 losses. Although this is his first appearance in the WBC, he has been selected for most international tournaments since the inauguration of coach Hirokazu Ibata and has a wealth of experience representing the team. Can he control a variety of pitches, including his specialty change-up, and seal hitter in this tournament as well?

Yumeto Kanemaru pitcher (Chunichi Dragons)
number：24
Major international tournaments: First appearance in the WBC

Hiroki Matsui, who withdrew due to poor condition pitcher was replaced by a 23-year-old left-hander in his second year as a professional. Last year, his rookie year, he continued to pitch well from his first appearance, and made his first win in the Hanshin Tigers game on August 7th, which was his 10th professional appearance. Although he has 2 wins and 6 losses in 15 starts, he has a ERA of 2.61 and has achieved QS 12 times. This season, he had already pitched in the open game, going 4 hit 1 Walk 3 strike out 2 runs in 4 innings. In his first appearance in the WBC, in the European national team match held in March 2024, Coach Ibata selected pitcher Kanemaru, a university student at the time, as the starting lineup. He also started against South Korea last fall.

*Added on February 27, 2026