The first eight members of Japan's 2026 World Baseball Classic team were announced on Friday, including two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/12/26/baseball/samurai-japan-first-eight/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #samuraijapan #shoheiohtani #worldbaseballclassic #hirokazuibata
Though Samurai Japan will have a roster that includes Shohei Ohtani and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it will have its hands full defending the World Baseball Classic title. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/12/22/baseball/wbc-2026-roster-building/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #2026worldbaseballclassic #tarikskubal #samuraijapan #markderosa #teamusa
For Samurai Japan, the chance to play with the pitch clock and PitchCom — neither of which is used in NPB — was the main takeaway in its two-game series against South Korea. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/17/baseball/samurai-japan-wbc-warmup/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #samuraijapan #2026worldbaseballclassic #hirokazuibata #shoheiohtani