When it comes to international baseball competitions and tournaments held over the past few years, one undisputed champion stands out above the rest of the field. Samurai Japan has formed an absolute powerhouse at just about every level of international play.
Japan has won seven tournaments in the past five years, including the 2019 WBSC Premier12 Tournament, the 2021 Olympics, the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the Women’s World Cup, and the U15, U18, and U23 World Cup on September 14.
They won their second consecutive U23 World Cup and remain at the top of the power rankings. They have about 836 more points than second-place Mexico, so it will be a while before we see any team take a chance at taking the number one spot in the rankings.
The next competition that Samurai Japan will gear up for is the 2024 WBSC Premier12 Tournament. Shohei Ohtani played in the Premier12 Tournament in 2015, but Japan finished in third place that year. In 2019, their roster featured future MLB players, including Shota Imanaga, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Seiya Suzuki, and Masataka Yoshida. They went on to defeat South Korea 5-3.
So, which players are likely to represent Japan in the Premier12 Tournament this upcoming fall?
Orix Buffaloes ace Hiroya Miyagi could likely be part of the team’s rotation. Miyagi also pitched with Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic, only pitching in one game in tournament play. Chiba Lotte Marines ace Roki Sasaki could also be in play to pitch with the team this November.
It has been great to see Samurai Japan dominate the competition in international baseball, setting themselves up as the team to beat each year. As Japan looks to remain the best in international baseball, it will be great to see more talent showcased in the next few months.
Photo Credit: Japan’s Ryoji Kuribayashi (4th R) celebrates with catcher Takuya Kai (5th R) after their victory during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (Photo by STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)
