Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher Kaima Taira and Hanshin Tigers pitcher Daichi Ishii have withdrawn from Japan’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to injuries.
Taira, who tied for the Pacific League lead with 31 saves last season, sustained a left calf strain on Saturday and was initially expected to miss two to three weeks. He officially withdrew from the national team on Wednesday, though he returned to the Lions shortly afterward and threw a light bullpen session on Thursday.
“To be honest, I feel good to throw. I don’t feel any real discomfort right now. But if I push myself too much, I might get injured again, so I don’t want to risk it,” Taira told reporters.
The 26-year-old right-hander is expected to transition back into a starting role this season, a position he previously held in 2023. His withdrawal gives him the remainder of the spring to fully recover from the injury and build back up as a starter.
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles reliever Shoma Fujihira was called up from the designated pitcher pool to replace Taira. Fujihira, 27, impressed at the 2024 WBSC Premier12, recording 12 strikeouts across six scoreless appearances. He followed that with a strong 2025 campaign, posting a 2.11 ERA with a 27.7% strikeout rate and an 8.4% walk rate in NPB. He registered 21 holds and 12 saves.
Ishii, meanwhile, suffered a left Achilles tendon injury while covering first base during practice on Wednesday and had to be carted off the field. The 28-year-old right-hander, coming off a historic season in which he posted a 0.17 ERA out of the bullpen, pulled out of the tournament the following day.
He is expected to miss five to six months, ruling him out for at least the first half of the 2026 NPB season. A replacement has not yet been announced, though Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks closer Kazuki Sugiyama is believed to be the leading candidate from the designated pitcher pool.
Just over a week into camp, the injuries represent an early setback for manager Hirokazu Ibata’s pitching staff and bullpen plans heading into the WBC. Even so, the overall outlook for the pitching remains largely unchanged, with Taisei Ota and Yuki Matsui still expected to compete for the closer role.
Photo: Hanshin Tigers pitcher Daichi Ishii works against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in an MLB Japan Series exhibition baseball game, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
