The two-way star was impressive both on the mound and at the plate in Japan's rout of China in the WBC opener for both teams.
Women's champion Mao Shimada and men's gold medalist Kao Miura headlined Japan's four-medal haul at the World Junior Championships in Calgary.
Jin Young Ko wins the tournament by two strokes over Nelly Korda, with Ayaka Furue and two others one shot further back in Singapore.
In the first race of the 2023 Formula One campaign, 22-year-old AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda, who started 14th on the grid, just missed out on points.
Led by tourney MVP Omari Spellman, Anyang KGC outplays the Seoul SK Knights, their Korean Basketball League rivals, en route to the EASL Champions Week title.
The 25-year-old surges ahead of his compatriots down the home stretch to claim the victory in the Tokyo Marathon, which had a field of about 38,000...
In becoming the sixth Japanese man to claim the world junior title, Kao Miura beats runner-up Naoki Rossi of Switzerland by 44 points in Calgary.
Minnesota Twins starter Kenta Maeda, who missed the 2022 season after having Tommy John surgery, has pitched effectively in two spring training appearances.
Seizing the moment, Mao Shimada had a stunning performance highlighted by a triple axel, a quadruple toe loop and a total of eight clean triple jumps.
The Dragons, guided by former Australia national team coach Brian Goorjian, keep alive their quest to earn a top-three finish in the EASL Champions Week.
Title favorite Kao Miura delivers a strong performance highlighted by incredible speed in a fine show skating to "Michelangelo 70" and "La Muerte del Angel."
Although Japan struggled in the opening rounds of the 2006 WBC, subsequent victories over South Korea and Cuba delivered a championship to Sadaharu Oh's team.