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
Samurai Japan filled out its roster for the World Baseball Classic on Monday, adding an infusion of MLB talent to the team as it prepares to take aim at a second consecutive title this spring. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/01/26/baseball/japanese-baseball/japan-wbc-roster-announcement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #japanesebaseball #worldbaseballclassic #samuraijapan #hiroyamiyagi #ryuheisotani #seiyasuzuki #hirokazuibata #yoshinobuyamamoto #shoheiohtani
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