Defending champions Japan named their first batch of players for the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Friday (26 December) – eight pitchers including reigning tournament MVP Shohei Ohtani.
Joining the Los Angeles Dodger on the list from MLB are the Los Angeles Angels’ Yusei Kikuchi and Yuki Matsui of the San Diego Padres. Kikuchi is a first-time selection.
From Nippon Professional Baseball, Hiromi Ito of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Kaima Taira of the Saitama Seibu Lions, Taisei Ota of the Yomiuri Giants, Daichi Ishii of the Hanshin Tigers and the Chiba Lotte Marines’s Atsuki Taneichi.
Manager Hirokazu Ibata said during a press conference that he wanted to give a head start to as many pitchers as possible with the preparation, especially the NPB players who need to adjust to the major league ball.
Ibata hopes to name the full squad by mid-January ahead of training camp in February.
Some, like Ohtani’s team-mate Yoshinobu Yamamoto and newly signed Chicago White Sox Munetaka Murakami, have made it be known that they will play but through an individual capacity and not officially via their teams.
“With the ball being different, I wanted to start as early as I could,” Ibata said. “We’re still waiting to hear back from MLB on a few players so when we do, then we can work out who from the NPB.”
Ibata said he will not know until camp begins if and how Ohtani will play two roles at the competition.
“He hasn’t started throwing yet so I think that will be a decision during camp,” Ibata said.