Japan's World Baseball Classic team is set to add Yomiuri Giants third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and Rakuten Eagles closer Yuki Matsui to its roster, sources familiar with the matter said Sunday.
Japan's manager Hideki Kuriyama on Jan. 6 announced the first 12 men, led by Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, for the fifth edition of the tournament in March.
Okamoto led the Central League in both home runs and RBIs in 2020 and 2021 before Yakult Swallows third baseman Munetaka Murakami became Japanese pro baseball's youngest Triple Crown winner at age 22 last year.
Matsui led the Pacific League with 38 saves in 2019 and 32 saves in 2022.
Other pitchers who will join what is shaping up to be Japan's strongest-ever WBC team are Orix Buffaloes left-hander Hiroya Miyagi, Chunichi Dragons right-hander Hiroto Takahashi, Hiroshima Carp closer Ryoji Kuribayashi, according to the sources.
Kuriyama is also set to name Giants catcher Takumi Oshiro, Seibu Lions first baseman Hotaka Yamakawa, Hanshin Tigers middle infielder Takumu Nakano and SoftBank Hawks utility player Ukyo Shuto to his 30-man roster, the sources said.
Japan is scheduled to play its Pool B opener on March 9 against China at Tokyo Dome. The semifinals and final will be played in Miami, Florida, between March 19 and 21.
