Japan's Ibata Envisions MLB-Focused Team for 2026 World Baseball Classic

Japan's national baseball team manager, Hirokazu Ibata, is preparing for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), anticipating a squad heavily influenced by Major League Baseball (MLB) players. His goal is to lead Samurai Japan to its fourth championship title in this prestigious tournament.

In recent discussions, Ibata revealed that he has engaged with several MLB players during the offseason, and he appreciates their commitment to participating in the upcoming WBC. He expressed optimism about the positive impact these players can have on those competing in Japan's domestic leagues.

Among the MLB stars, Ibata is particularly eager to include Shohei Ohtani, the standout player who was named the MVP of the 2023 WBC, as well as Seiya Suzuki from the Chicago Cubs, who missed the previous tournament due to injury. Ibata emphasized Suzuki's importance, citing his prowess as a top right-handed hitter with significant power.

As part of his preparations, Ibata will soon finalize the roster for two spring exhibition games against the Netherlands scheduled for March 5 and 6 at Kyocera Dome Osaka. He noted that he faced challenges in selecting players for the Premier12 team and is looking forward to evaluating new talent during these friendlies. He believes that the upcoming regular season will motivate players to elevate their performance.

Reflecting on past experiences, Ibata acknowledged that Japan's loss to Taiwan in the Premier12 final was a setback. He emphasized the importance of learning from that defeat and using it as motivation for success in the WBC.

With the tournament approaching, Ibata's focus is on building a competitive team that combines the skills of MLB players with the talent of domestically based athletes, aiming to reclaim Japan's status in international baseball.