Relying on a blazing fastball, 21-year-old Marines right-hander Roki Sasaki had an impressive 2023 debut against the Fighters.
The 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner is a valuable asset for the BayStars, but his signing comes with a price for the NPB team.
With a 7-0 record in the WBC, Samurai Japan, led by manager Hideki Kuriyama, featured quality hitting and pitching along with smart baseball fundamentals.
For Samurai Japan, impressive wins over China, South Korea, the Czech Republic and Australia underscore the team's tremendous talent and roster depth.
Owner Shane Barclay outlines his company's baseball tour plans for Japan and elsewhere in 2023, highlighting his joy of sharing fun experiences with fans.
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.
Josh Hawkinson scores 22 points and Yutaro Suda pours in 20 to lead Japan past Bahrain in the teams’ final FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier.