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
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
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