The Japanese baseball team has announced in advance the 12 players who will participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Japanese coach Hideki Kuriyama first unveiled the 12 players on the final list for the 2023 WBC at a press conference held in Tokyo, Japan on the 6th.
Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) and Yu Darvish (San Diego), both playing in the American Major League (MLB), were named, and Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs) was also included.
Among the players playing in Japanese professional baseball, Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte), the league’s youngest player to achieve a perfect game, Yoshinobu Yamamoto 토토사이트 (Orix), who won three gold medals as a pitcher for two consecutive years, and Munetaka Murakami (Yakult), who set a new record for most homers in a single season with 56 home runs. has been named
In addition, pitchers Shota Imana (Yokohama), Shosei Dogo (Yomiuri), Shugo Maki (Yokohama), Sosuke Genda (Seibu), Takuya Gai, and Kensuke Kondo (above Softbank) were also included in the final roster.
Ohtani, who attended the press conference that day, said, “As many great players have gathered, I will run only with the goal of winning.”
Darvish said through the official channel of the Japanese national team, “I will challenge with all my might to convey the splendor of Japanese baseball along with winning the championship. I will prepare properly so that I can pitch to lead the team toward the best in the world.”
Murakami Munetaka said, “I am very honored to be selected as a member of Samurai Japan. Thank you.” I will play with all my might,” he said.
On the other hand, Japan has won two consecutive championships in 2006 and 2009, the first WBC tournament, but failed to continue its relationship with the championship, finishing in third place in both the 3rd and 4th tournaments. In this 5th tournament, we are aiming for the first championship in 14 years.
Japan was placed in Group B with Korea, Australia, Czech Republic and China in the first round of the tournament held in their home country.