TOKYO – Free agent right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and Hanshin Tigers infielder Teruaki Sato were among 11 players added Friday to Japan’s World Baseball Classic roster headlined by two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
With the new additions, skipper Hirokazu Ibata has named 19 members of a maximum 30-man roster that will begin Samurai Japan’s WBC title defense against Pool C opponent Taiwan at Tokyo Dome on March 6.
The 36-year-old Sugano, who entered free agency this offseason, spent last year with the Baltimore Orioles and was previously a two-time winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award for Japan’s top starting pitcher as a member of the Yomiuri Giants.
The 2017 WBC representative was committed to playing for Japan again despite being unsigned for the upcoming season, according to Ibata.
“We discussed his situation and agreed that even in these circumstances, we wanted him to play, and he also wanted to play,” Ibata said.
The 26-year-old Sato is set for his WBC debut after an MVP season for the Tigers in which he led the Central League with 40 home runs and 102 RBIs.
“He definitely hits the ball further than anyone in Japanese baseball right now,” Ibata said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing him hit the long ball.”
Also set to make their WBC debuts are SoftBank Hawks pitcher Yuki Matsumoto and Tigers outfielder Shota Morishita, as well as catchers Seishiro Sakamoto of Hanshin and Kenya Wakatsuki of the Orix Buffaloes.
Infielders Sosuke Genda of the Seibu Lions, Shugo Maki of the DeNA BayStars, and SoftBank’s Taisei Makihara have been selected for the second straight tournament, as have Hawks’ outfielders Kensuke Kondo and Ukyo Shuto.
Ibata said he hoped to announce the 11 remaining roster spots by next week.
“We need to get our pitchers set and make adjustments, so I want to make a decision as soon as possible,” he said.