Last week, manager Hirokazu Ibata officially announced the second wave of players selected for Samurai Japan ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The group consisted of 11 players – two pitchers and nine hitters – bringing Japan’s confirmed participants to 19.
Among the latest call-ups, only one Major League player was included: Tomoyuki Sugano, who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles last season and is currently a free agent. The other 10 selections came exclusively from Nippon Professional Baseball. As such, only four MLB players have been officially named so far, including Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers), Yusei Kikuchi (Angels), and Yuki Matsui (Padres), who were unveiled in December.
Still missing from the roster are several marquee names, including superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers), Kodai Senga (Mets), Masataka Yoshida (Red Sox), Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs), as well as newly posted sluggers Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays) and Munetaka Murakami (White Sox). Ibata has stated that all the players have expressed their willingness to represent the Samurai, but MLB has yet to grant formal approval.
According to the Japanese tabloid Bunshun Online, the delays are largely due to a change in the WBC approval process. In past tournaments, Japan would first confirm a player’s intent and then request permission directly from the player’s MLB club. Then, once the club signed off, participation was finalized. Under the new system, however, all participation requests must be submitted to MLB itself, which then consults both the player and the club before rendering a decision.
The process has been further complicated by communication restrictions. Ibata said that during his prior trips to the United States, MLB instructed him not to discuss WBC participation directly with players. While the national team can still informally confirm a player’s willingness, all official communication – from approvals to logistical clearances – is handled centrally by MLB. Delays have also been exacerbated by MLB’s limited manpower, as a small group of league officials is tasked with coordinating WBC participation for players across nearly all competing nations, creating a bottleneck that has slowed the processing and return of approvals.
The ongoing uncertainty appears to be affecting Ibata’s roster construction and team preparation. If all seven MLB players are ultimately approved, only four spots would remain for NPB players: two pitchers, one catcher, and one infielder. Of course, if several Big Leaguers end up not joining the team, more opportunities would open up for domestic stars.
Among backstops, veteran Yuhei Nakamura (Yakult Swallows) and rising star Yukinori Kishida (Yomiuri Giants) are reportedly competing for the third and final catcher spot. On the infield, reigning Central League batting champion Kaito Kozono (Hiroshima Toyo Carp) is believed to make the team.
On the pitching side, health concerns are seemingly a holdup for top starter Hiroya Miyagi (Orix Buffaloes), who dealt with a minor injury last season. If fully healthy, the southpaw would almost certainly secure a spot. Other arms reportedly under consideration for the final cut include Ryuhei Sotani (Orix Buffaloes), Hiroto Takahashi (Chunichi Dragons), Koki Kitayama (Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters), and Shoma Fujihira (Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles). Notably, star closer Shinya Matsuyama (Chunichi Dragons) and young flamethrower Shunpeita Yamashita (Orix Buffaloes) were not mentioned in the article.
With MLB approvals still uncertain, Japan’s final 30-man roster will not be set until late January. The official WBC roster deadline is Feb. 6.
Photo: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano has been confirmed for Japan’s 2026 World Baseball Classic roster, but several MLB players are still waiting for approval. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)