From Taiwan to Brazil, a look at what NPB stars are joining which teams ahead of the World Baseball Classic starting on March 5 at Tokyo Dome. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/02/09/baseball/japanese-baseball/npb-players-wbc-rosters/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #japanesebaseball #samuraijapan #2026worldbaseballclassic #cuba #taiwan #brazil #panama
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way star Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Japan at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/02/01/baseball/shohei-ohtani-wbc-pitching/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #shoheiohtani #2026worldbaseballclassic #losangelesdodgers #daveroberts #yoshinobuyamamoto #rokisasaki
Kaito Kozono and Shota Morishita give Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata a pair of familiar faces to turn to during the World Baseball Classic. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/01/29/baseball/samurai-japan-kozono-morishita/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #kaitokozono #shotamorishita #hirokazuibata #2026worldbaseballclassic
Defending World Baseball Classic champion Japan named 11 more players to its roster for the 2026 edition of the tournament, including former Yomiuri Giants and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/01/16/baseball/2026-world-baseball-classic-announcement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #2026worldbaseballclassic #tomoyukisugano #teruakisato #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