Overview
- Officials unveiled three MLB selections—Shohei Ohtani, Yusei Kikuchi, and Yuki Matsui—alongside five NPB pitchers: Hiromi Itoh, Taisei Ota, Atsuki Taneichi, Daichi Ishii, and Kaima Taira.
- Kaima Taira, an Olympic gold medalist making his first WBC roster, is slated for relief and said he will pitch with pride and responsibility.
- Hirokazu Iba outlined a relief corps of five to six pitchers, with frequent short‑inning changes expected under tournament restrictions.
- The staff emphasized early selection of domestic pitchers to give them time to adjust to the WBC baseball.
- The remaining 22 players will be announced in January, and Japan opens Pool C at Tokyo Dome against Taiwan on March 6 after the tournament begins on March 5.