Japan's dream of defending the title shattered, halted in the quarterfinals; Yu Darvish emotionally posts, promising to win it back next tournament!

Yu Darvish, a player for MLB's San Diego Padres who accompanied the Samurai Japan team as an "advisor" in this year's World Baseball Classic, spoke out for the first time today via his personal X platform following the team's quarterfinal defeat by Venezuela, which dashed their hopes of defending the championship. He not only thanked the whole team but also expressed his heartfelt admiration for the athletes competing under great pressure, pledging to grow more powerful together for the next edition.

On social media, Yu Darvish wrote: "Although this wasn't the destination we aimed for, I want to say to the manager, coaches, players, and all staff members: 'Thank you for your hard work' over the approximately one month since the Miyazaki training camp began."

He continued: "I witnessed firsthand how the players, under tremendous pressure and a tough schedule, adjusted and prepared diligently every day aiming for the championship. Seeing such a frustrating outcome truly pains my heart. The staff also gave their full support to ensure the players could perform at their best."

Yu Darvish also paid special tribute to the coaching staff led by manager Hirokazu Ibata: "Manager Ibata and the coaches undertook this heavy responsibility amidst the glory of the previous championship and the extremely high expectations from the outside. Even though the players' values and sensibilities today are completely different from those during the manager and coaches' playing era, I deeply appreciate your efforts to understand the players and fight alongside them."

Regarding the fans who supported them throughout, Yu Darvish showed his thoughtful side: "Thank you to all the fans who cheered for us at the stadium, at home, or on your commute. Thank you for purchasing so many Japan team merchandise; it undoubtedly became a source of strength for the players."

Finally, Yu Darvish reflected on his experience serving as an advisor this time: "Although the advisor position was delicate and challenging, I gained many experiences and learned a lot. Thank you to Manager Ibata and the Japan team for giving me this opportunity. For the next tournament, let's elevate ourselves to a higher level and win it back!"