Samurai Japan expanded its 2026 World Baseball Classic roster with Tomoyuki Sugano and 10 other players on January 16, following the initial group of eight announced in December. Sugano, with MLB experience from the 2025 season, returns to the national team since 2017.
Samurai Japan announced 11 new players for the 2026 World Baseball Classic on January 16, including free-agent pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, who returns to the national team for the first time since starting in the 2017 semifinals. Sugano, formerly of the Yomiuri Giants, pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in 2025, going 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA.
Sugano is the only addition with MLB experience; the other 10 are NPB players. They join the initial eight named in late December—including Shohei Ohtani and seven pitchers—to form a 19-player roster so far.
The WBC begins in March 2026, with Japan aiming to defend its title. Sugano's international and MLB background adds depth, while his free agency keeps his club future uncertain.
