Samurai Japan filled out its roster for the World Baseball Classic on Monday, adding an infusion of MLB talent to the team as it prepares to take aim at a second consecutive title this spring.
The 10 new players, headlined by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, bring Japan’s roster to 29, with one final player, likely another MLB star, to be named later.
“I’ve trained during the offseason to get myself in condition to compete at the WBC,” Yamamoto said in a statement released by Samurai Japan. “Together with my fantastic teammates and our reliable staff, we will aim to be No. 1.”