Samurai Japan reveal roster for series against the Netherlands
Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata announced a 28-player roster for the RAXUS Samurai Japan Series against the Netherlands, scheduled for March 5 and 6 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka.
As Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Secretary-General Katsuhico Nakamura stated, the two-game series represents the first step towards a competitive team for the World Baseball Classic 2026.
Ibata hasn't selected any player who represented second-place Japan at the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS. He told the local press he intends to improve the team by adding more left-handed relievers and power hitters.
The roster has 20 players who have never represented Japan in the past.
Among the players with international experience, left-handed starter Miyagi has already participated in the World Baseball Classic. He will likely start Game One while; right-hander Taneichi will be ready for Game Two.
Catcher Yamamoto and outfielder Mennai played for Ibata at the Global Baseball Games 2024
Right-hander Imai played for Ibata at the Asian Professional Baseball Championship.
Infielder Sato also participated in the Asian Professional Baseball Championship. Veteran infielder Yoshikawa withdrew from the Premier12 because of an injury.
The full roster
PITCHERS (12) Hiroya Miyagi, Riuhei Sotani (Orix Buffaloes), Atsuki Taneichi (Chiba Marines), Tsunehiro Hayato (Hiroshima Carp), Yukiya Saito (Nippon Ham Fighters), Yuki Hashimoto (Chunichi Dragons), Ryosuke Otsu (Fukuoka Hawks), Ryusei Kawano (Nippon Ham Fighters), Atsuya Horie (Hiroshima Carp), Kazuki Sugiyama (Fukuoka Hawks), Tatsuya Imai (Seibu Lions), Daichi Ishii (Hanshin Tigers).
CATCHERS (3) Yudai Yamamoto (Yokohama BayStars), Yukinori Kishida (Tokyo Giants), Takashi Umino (Fukuoka Hawks).
INFIELDERS (8) Yusuke Oyama (Hanshin Tigers), Naoki Yoshikawa (Tokyo Giants), Keito Mori (Yokohama BayStars), Hideki Nagaoka (Yakult Swallows), Teruaki Sato (Hansin Tigers), Ryo Ohta (Orix Buffaloes), Ryuta Hirose (Fukuoka Hawks), Masaya Yano (Hiroshima Carp).
OUTFIELDERS (5) Aito Takabe (Chiba Marines), Shun Mizutani (Nippom Ham Fighters), Seiya Hosokawa (Chunichi Dragons), Kouki Kajiwara (Yokohama BayStars), Chusei Mannami (Nippon Ham Fighters).
Ibata confirmed the Premier12 staff, including bench coach Makoto Kaneko, pitching coach Kazuki Yoshimi and assistant coaches Yoshinori Murata, Yoshiyuki Kamei and Eishin Soyogi. He added assistant coach Nobuhiro Matsuda and assistant pitching coach Atsushi Nohmi. Matsuda is a former NPB superstar who contributed to seven Japan Series titles and helped Japan win the WBSC Premier12 and the World Baseball Classic. Nohmi is a former NPB All-Star left-hander and a Japan Series winner.