Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will represent Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, while teammate Roki Sasaki will sit out due to injury concerns. Yamamoto's participation comes after a stellar 2025 season and World Series MVP performance. The tournament is scheduled for March 5-17 across Japan, Puerto Rico, and the United States.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting pitcher and reigning World Series MVP, has been confirmed to play for Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. According to reports from Yahoo! Japan and Chunichi, Yamamoto's involvement provides a significant boost to Japan's roster as they aim to defend their 2023 title. The 27-year-old signed a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023 and earned his first National League All-Star selection in 2025, finishing third in NL Cy Young voting.
In the 2025 regular season, Yamamoto posted a 12-8 record with a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts over 173.2 innings in 30 starts. His postseason heroics were even more impressive, going 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. Notably, in the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto started Games 2 and 6, allowing one run over 12 innings combined, and then threw 2.2 scoreless innings in relief on zero days' rest in Game 7 to secure the championship. Will Smith's home run in the 11th inning of that game clinched the title, with Yamamoto earning the win for the third time in the series. He also threw complete games in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series.
In contrast, Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki will not participate for Japan. The 24-year-old rookie missed most of 2025 due to a right shoulder impingement, sidelined for over four months after a rough start to the season. Sasaki debuted on March 19 against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome, walking five batters in three innings. He went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts before hitting the injured list in May, averaging fewer than five innings per outing. Sasaki returned in late September and excelled in relief during the playoffs, making nine appearances with a 0.84 ERA over 10.2 innings, charged with just one run.
Despite his postseason success, Sasaki's injury history and inconsistent starting performances raise concerns for 2026. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman noted at the Winter Meetings that the team is still working through decisions on Sasaki and Yamamoto, following a meeting with Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata. Shohei Ohtani has already confirmed his participation for Japan.
The 2026 WBC runs from March 5-17, with Japan in Group C alongside Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, and South Korea. Yamamoto previously won gold with Japan at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 WBC, and he hopes to add another in 2026.
