Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to represent Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, per Yahoo News Topics.

Yamamoto hasn’t had a clear status on the WBC this offseason, with multiple reports claiming the Dodgers would be careful with their Japanese pitchers in the upcoming tournament. The Dodgers’ concerns are valid, as Yamamoto had a long 2025 season — making 30 starts in the regular season and throwing 37.1 innings in the postseason.

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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on Yamamoto’s potential inclusion on Team Japan’s roster at the Winter Meetings and brought up limitations he would have if he participated.

“I would like to think that it’s going to be a dialogue as far as restrictions and limitations, in the sense of just trying to give them the opportunity,” Roberts said Monday at baseball’s winter meetings. “They’ve come off some stuff, some long seasons, and certainly with Yamamoto and looking out for 2026. But right now there’s no more clarity than we had before.”

Since his move to the United States, Yamamoto has become one of the best pitchers in the league and is coming off a fantastic season with the Dodgers. Through his 30 regular season starts, Yamamoto had a 2.49 ERA with 201 strikeouts, earning him his first All-Star selection and third place in NL Cy Young award voting.

NL MVP Shohei Ohtani will also represent Team Japan in the tournament. Roki Sasaki will not join his Dodgers teammates on Japan’s roster, as the Dodgers are wary of him sustaining another injury after spending the majority of 2025 on the injured list.

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Yamamoto played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where Japan took down the United States in the final for their record third WBC title. The right-hander made two appearances, allowing two runs through 7.1 innings while striking out 12 batters. He will once again play alongside Shohei Ohtani as Japan looks to win a second straight WBC.

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