Samurai Japan has begun shaping its roster to defend its World Baseball Classic title in 2026, with manager Hirokazu Ibata naming seven pitchers on Friday in Tokyo. Joining previously announced star Shohei Ohtani are MLB talents Yusei Kikuchi and Yuki Matsui, along with five Japanese league pitchers. Uncertainty lingers over whether Ohtani will pitch in the tournament.
As Samurai Japan prepares to defend its World Baseball Classic championship, the team's roster is starting to form. Superstar Shohei Ohtani had already declared his intention to play for the reigning champions. On Friday in Tokyo, manager Hirokazu Ibata announced seven additional players, all pitchers, according to reports.
The new additions include MLB pitchers Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, making his WBC debut, and Yuki Matsui of the San Diego Padres. The other five pitchers hail from Japan's professional leagues: Hiromi Ito of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Kaima Taira of the Seibu Lions, Atsuki Taneichi of the Chiba Lotte Marines, Taisei Ota of the Yomiuri Giants, and Daichi Ishii of the Hanshin Tigers.
A key question surrounds Ohtani's role. It is unclear if he will pitch, though Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested at the recent Winter Meetings that Ohtani might be limited to hitting. "I'm hoping he doesn't [pitch]. But I don't know," Roberts said. "He's very in tune with his body, but I would say probably the thought is he's probably just going to hit."
Ohtani's performance in the 2023 Classic underscores his value. He earned MVP honors, batting .435 with a 1.345 OPS and posting a 2-0 record with a 1.86 ERA on the mound. In the final against Team USA, Ohtani struck out then-teammate Mike Trout to secure Japan's victory.
Samurai Japan's roster will continue to evolve in the coming weeks ahead of the 2026 tournament.
