The Japan Samurai team has announced their classic tournament roster, with 15 championship members returning to demonstrate their determination to defend the title.

In preparation for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) scheduled for March this year, the Japan Samurai team officially revealed their third batch of players yesterday, drawing international attention for the depth of their lineup. Head coach Hirokazu Ibata included eight active Major League Baseball players in this third group, setting a new record for Japan’s participation and signaling a strategic move to secure back-to-back championships.

According to MLB’s official website, as many as 15 players on Japan’s roster come from the 2023 championship team, providing rare depth and international tournament experience for their title defense. The report emphasized that even the so-called "Avengers" from the United States must be fully prepared to face them.

Among the 29 players currently announced, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have been selected again, both core members of the previous championship team. Additionally, Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, who moved to the U.S. via the posting system during the offseason, along with Seiya Suzuki, who missed the last tournament due to injury but is now returning, further strengthen Japan’s batting lineup. One final spot remains open and is expected to be announced later.

However, some members of the previous championship team were not called up this time, including Roki Sasaki and Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar, who has Japanese heritage. Sasaki’s progress has been affected by injuries during his rookie season in the U.S., while Nootbaar underwent heel surgery in the offseason, making their health status a key factor in selection decisions.

As defending champions, Japan is once again heading to the Classic, retaining much of their winning squad and widely regarded by foreign media as one of the top contenders for consecutive titles. As the final roster is finalized, Japan’s team composition will serve as an important reference point for other countries preparing for the tournament.

The returning 2023 Japan WBC championship roster members (15 players):

Pitchers (7): Yuki Matsui, Hiroya Miyagi, Hiromi Ito, Taisei, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hiroto Takahashi

Catcher (1): Yuhi Nakamura

Infielders (5): Shugo Maki, Taisei Makihara, Sosuke Genda, Kazuma Okamoto, Munetaka Murakami

Outfielders (2): Kensuke Kondo, Yuki Okabayashi