Slugging third baseman Munetaka Murakami and shortstop Sosuke Genda were named Wednesday to play for Samurai Japan in two March games against a team of European stars.
Murakami won a Triple Crown in 2022 and aspires to play in Major League Baseball, while Genda, who played hurt last year in the World Baseball Classic, won his sixth straight Golden Glove last year.
Manager Hirokazu Ibata selected three other 2023 WBC veterans, second baseman Takumu Nakano, outfielder Kensuke Kondo and pitcher Hiroya Miyagi, along with four college players for the games on March 6 and 7 at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
"(The college players) are going to bear the burden of playing for Japan going forward," Ibata told a Tokyo press conference. "I want this to be a goal for players in the amateur ranks."
Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Chusei Mannami, whose 2023 breakout season saw him win a Golden Glove and tie for the Pacific League lead with 25 home runs, is a holdover from Ibata's team for last year's Asia Pro Baseball Championship.
"It's an honor to be selected," the 23-year-old Mannami said. "I want to prepare well so I'll be worthy of Samurai Japan."
