Japan released their roster for the World Baseball Classic today and there are no less than seven Japanese Major League players on the list.
Japan was the winner of the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and they hope to regain the title in 2009.
In 2006 Daisuke Matsuzaka won the MVP in the Classic and he will return for Japan. Ichiro Suzuki will also return and play for Japan in the Classic.
Another great player on the roster is Japan pitcher Yu Darvish, currently playing for the Nippon Ham Fighters. He could possibly be playing in the Major Leagues as the next US- Japan star very soon.
Team Japan will be managed by Tatsunori Hara manager of the Yomiuri Giants.
Members of Team Japan from the Major League include Daisuke Matsuzaka- Boston Red Sox, Ichiro Suzuki-Seattle Mariners, also from the Mariners catcher Kenjii Johjima , pitcher Hiroki Kuroda from the Dodgers, Takashi Saito who is a free agent reliever, second baseman Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Rays,and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome from the Chicago Cubs.
Injuries will not allow New York Yankees’ Hideki Matsui to play in this years Classic.
Japan plays in Pool A in Tokyo and should they win they will play in San Diego in the second round. All the action starts in eary March 2009.
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