WBC First Round Group C Japan 9-0 Czech Republic (10th, Tokyo Dome)

Samurai Japan's Softbank Hawks outfielder, Kensuke Kondo (32), was left out of starting line-up in the final first round game against the Czech Republic, and did not even appear as a pinch hitter. starting line-up had started in every game up to the third game, At Bat 0-for-12 hit 1 Walk. He will now head to Miami, USA, for the quarterfinals without a hit. Before the game, manager Ibata said in a pre-game press conference, "He never looks down and keeps playing. First of all, as a baseball player, I think it's really important for him to get a hit. But at the same time, I also think it's necessary to take rest. First of all, we're most grateful that he's in good health."

In past WBCs, hitter was expected to be a key member of the batting lineup but fell into a slump during the tournament has led his team to become world champion with a dramatic performance at the last minute.

Munetaka Murakami, who had been assigned the No. 4 spot behind Shohei Ohtani in the previous fifth tournament in 2011, slumped and was demoted to No. 5 in the semifinals. In the semifinal game against Mexico, he was no-hit in four at bats, including falling to struck out three batters in a row, but with one run scored and no outs in the ninth inning, he hit a comeback walk-off doble.

In the first tournament in 2006, Fukudome Kosuke, whose batting average was below 10% until the quarterfinals, was dropped from starting line-up in the semifinal against South Korea, but he came in as a pinch hitter with two outs and a runner on second base in the seventh inning and hit a two-run home run to take the lead.

In the second tournament in 2009, Ichiro, the leadoff hitter, was in a slump, going 0-for-12 consecutive hit. However, in the extra inning against South Korea, with two outs and runners on second and third, he hit a two-run RBI single that turned him into a hero.

Kondo is a genius hitter with some of the best batting skills in the NPB. Based on past patterns, Kondo's bat may hold the key to winning the world championship for the fourth time in two consecutive tournaments.