Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami Will Compete in the Classic During Their MLB Rookie Year; Head Coach Reveals the Key Reason

The Samurai Japan team announced the third batch of players for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) today (26th), with 29 out of 30 players confirmed so far. Among them, two heavy hitters who moved to the Major Leagues through the posting system during the off-season—Kazuma Okamoto and Munetaka Murakami—are confirmed to represent the country for the second consecutive tournament, drawing significant attention.

It has generally been believed that players in their first year in the Major Leagues find it difficult to participate in the Classic, mainly because spring training is a critical period for adjusting to the new environment and competing for playing time. Leaving temporarily for national team duties usually requires strong cooperation and approval from their MLB clubs.

However, in this edition, Okamoto and Murakami were successfully selected, largely due to their strong personal desire and existing precedents. Head coach Hirokazu Ibata explained at a press conference that when they first invited the two, Okamoto was still with the Yomiuri Giants and Murakami with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows; after they confirmed their transfer to the Major Leagues, the team re-asked about their intentions. Ibata stated, "Both clearly expressed their willingness to participate in the Classic," which became a crucial foundation for subsequent coordination with their new MLB teams.

Ibata also mentioned that the smooth communication this time was related to the successful experience from the previous tournament. "Being able to establish this kind of model, I believe, is thanks to Masataka Yoshida who participated last time and paved the way for us. We are truly grateful for that."

As the most powerful right- and left-handed hitters with long-ball potential in Japan’s lineup, the simultaneous selection of Okamoto and Murakami will provide the Japanese team with a more stable offensive setup in a short tournament. While embracing new challenges in the Major Leagues, these two sluggers also bear the important responsibility of helping Japan defend its title.