Overview
- Manager Hirokazu Ibata sent a player list in September to World Baseball Classic organizers to check the availability of Major League Baseball talent.
- The outreach targets MLB-affiliated players as Japan begins formal preparations to defend its WBC crown in March 2026.
- Nishinippon Shimbun reported the step on November 17 as a paywalled article, disclosing the timing of the September submission.
- Attention centers on potential participation by Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, with the club expected to weigh involvement carefully, according to Kyodo reporting cited by Chunichi Shimbun.
- Ohtani recently said he is waiting for contact regarding the tournament, and any participation will require coordination with organizers and MLB clubs plus player health considerations.