Japan 2026 World Baseball Classic Roster: Shohei Ohtani Leads Samurai Japan Defense of Title
The defending champions, Samurai Japan, return a formidable squad loaded with elite talent and firepower. The lineup is headlined by NL MVP and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is limited to designated hitter duties (no pitching expected this tournament). The rotation remains deep and high-quality, anchored by World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, supported by Yusei Kikuchi, Tomoyuki Sugano, and young standout Hiroto Takahashi.
The bullpen relies heavily on NPB arms, which could be a relative weakness due to limited MLB experience. Offensively, Japan boasts power and depth with Ohtani surrounded by threats like Seiya Suzuki, Kazuma Okamoto, Munetaka Murakami, and Masataka Yoshida. This is a veteran-heavy group rich in international experience—anything less than gold would be seen as a disappointment.
Top Players
Shohei Ohtani: Arguably the greatest player in baseball history; his elite hitting (even without pitching) is a massive advantage.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto: A top-tier MLB ace who has seamlessly transitioned and could anchor the staff in key starts.
Best Prospects / Young Talent
While not a classic prospect group, Munetaka Murakami stands out—he's rookie-eligible in MLB for 2026 and one of the few players born in 2000 or later on this veteran roster.
Samurai Japan 2026 World Baseball Classic Roster
Two-Way Player TWP
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Pitchers
Daichi Ishii (RHP) – Hanshin Tigers (JPN)
Hiromi Itoh (RHP) – Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (JPN)
Yusei Kikuchi (LHP) – Los Angeles Angels
Koki Kitayama (RHP) – Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (JPN)
Yuki Matsui (LHP) – San Diego Padres
Yuki Matsumoto (RHP) – Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
Hiroya Miyagi (LHP) – ORIX Buffaloes (JPN)
Taisei Ota (RHP) – Yomiuri Giants (JPN)
Ryuhei Sotani (LHP) – ORIX Buffaloes (JPN)
Tomoyuki Sugano (RHP) – Free Agent
Kaima Taira (RHP) – Saitama Seibu Lions (JPN)
Hiroto Takahashi (RHP) – Chunichi Dragons (JPN)
Atsuki Taneichi (RHP) – Chiba Lotte Marines (JPN)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (RHP) – Los Angeles Dodgers
Catchers
Yuhei Nakamura – Tokyo Yakult Swallows (JPN)
Seishiro Sakamoto – Hanshin Tigers (JPN)
Kenya Wakatsuki – ORIX Buffaloes (JPN)
Infielders
Sosuke Genda (SS) – Saitama Seibu Lions (JPN)
Kaito Kozono (SS) – Hiroshima Toyo Carp (JPN)
Shugo Maki (2B) – Yokohama DeNA BayStars (JPN)
Taisei Makihara (UTL) – Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
Munetaka Murakami (1B) – Chicago White Sox
Kazuma Okamoto (3B) – Toronto Blue Jays
Teruaki Sato (3B) – Hanshin Tigers (JPN)
Outfielders
Kensuke Kondo (LF) – Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
Shota Morishita (RF) – Hanshin Tigers (JPN)
Ukyo Shuto (CF) – Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
Seiya Suzuki (RF) – Chicago Cubs
Masataka Yoshida (LF) – Boston Red Sox
Designated Hitter
Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers
Japan 2026 World Baseball Classic Schedule
Dates / Location: March 5–10, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan.
Team Japan Pool C Schedule (All times local JST;
March 6, 7:00 PM: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
March 7, 7:00 PM: Japan vs. Korea
March 8, 7:00 PM: Japan vs. Australia
March 10, 7:00 PM: Japan vs. Czechia
Japan opens Pool C play at Tokyo Dome against Australia, South Korea, and the Czech Republic (March 5-10), with home-field advantage boosting their title defense. With a mix of MLB power (Ohtani, Kikuchi, Matsui) and NPB depth, Samurai Japan remains a +320 to +370 betting favorite behind only the USA. Expect more announcements soon.
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