Overview
- Kyodo News reports Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch for Samurai Japan in March, joining confirmed participant Shohei Ohtani.
- Roki Sasaki is expected to sit out the tournament due to recent shoulder issues, and the Dodgers retain the right to block him after his 60-day IL stint.
- Dodgers leaders describe talks with Team Japan as delicate and are seeking limits on pitchers’ workloads for the WBC.
- Andrew Friedman said MLB’s participation forms and feedback window are imminent, with Japan aiming to finalize its roster around the new year.
- Ohtani’s pitching role remains undecided, with team officials preferring he serve primarily as a hitter given recent workloads and 2026 planning.