The Japanese national baseball team, which is seeking its second consecutive victory in the tournament, has confirmed its final entry of 28 players to play in the 2024 Premier 12.
The Japanese national baseball team, led by Coach Hirokazu Ibata, announced its 28-man roster for the Premier 12 through a press conference on Wednesday. The team focused on generational change, with 10 players selected for the first time for the national team, and 14 players under the age of 25, which is half of the current team.
What’s noticeable is that Murakami Munetaka (Yakurt Swallows), a big gun who holds the record for the most home runs by Japanese batters, and Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines), a “monster” who throws a maximum speed of 165km/h, are missing. Murakami, who ranked first in the Central League home runs and RBIs with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs this season, failed to join the national team due to a fractured right thumb toe at the end of the season.
Regarding the part where Sasaki was not selected, manager Ibata said, “I know his (Sasaki) skills, but there are some pitchers who have shown better performances,” adding, “There are enough resources to replace him.”
As Coach Ibata confidently stated, the Japanese national team is still strong this time. Among the pitching staff are Hiromi Ito (Nihonham Fighters), who tied for the most wins in the Pacific League with impressive pitching against the Korean national team at the Tokyo Olympics, Hiroto Takahashi (1.38), who ranks first in the overall ERA in the NPB, and Shosei Togo (Yomiuri Giants) who has won 12 games in a row and posted an ERA of 1.95 this season.
On the batter’s side, Okamoto Kazuma (Yomiuri Giants), the winner of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), Maki Shugo (Yomiuri Giants), a big-arm infielder with more than 20 home runs for four consecutive years, and Manami Chusei (Nihonham), who showed off his hot attack against South Korea at last year’s Asiya Professional 메이저놀이터 Baseball Championship (APBC) tournament, are among those to be wary of.
According to the Japanese media “Nikkan Sports,” Ibata has officially announced that he will take the helm until the 2026 WBC Championship. “First of all, I think about Japan becoming the best in the world in the Premier 12. Ibata said, “Afterwards, we can solve each task one by one and continue to the WBC. I hope at least one more player (at the Premier 12 Championship) will experience international competitions and help us in the next WBC Championship and beyond.”
Meanwhile, the Korean national team, which is seeking to regain the top spot after winning the first Premier 12 tournament in 2015, selected 60 preliminary players and submitted them to the World Baseball Softball Association (WBSC) on September 12. The deadline for submitting the final list is October 11, and “Team Korea” will also confirm and announce its final entry soon.
