Photo/Illutration Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Jan. 6 about being named a member of the Samurai Japan national team for the World Baseball Classic. (Jin Nishioka)

Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels heads 12 key players of the Samurai Japan squad for the upcoming World Baseball Classic announced on Jan. 6 by skipper Hideki Kuriyama.

“Amazing players are on the team,” Ohtani said at a news conference in Tokyo, describing the initial roster. “I will just give it my best to win the championship and nothing else.”

It will mark the first time for Ohtani to play in the WBC as he missed the 2017 tournament because of an injury.

“This is my first time playing in the WBC so I also hope to enjoy (the experience),” he said.

Other major leaguers to suit up for Japan include ace pitcher Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres and slugging outfielder Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs.

From the Nippon Professional Baseball league side, Munetaka “MuraGod” Murakami of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Roki Sasaki of the Chiba Lotte Marines and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Orix Buffaloes were named.

None has been shy about their ambition to play in the major leagues as soon as their contract allows them to seek a team overseas. 

The international tournament will be held in March.

Kuriyama said at a news conference in Tokyo that he will soon announce the rest of the team.

Players will join in a training camp scheduled in February in Miyazaki Prefecture, then play warm-up games.

Samurai Japan is in Pool B and will play its first-round games at the Tokyo Dome, starting from March 9.

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