Rosters have been announced for the exhibition series between world No. 1 Samurai Japan and Team Kingdom of the Netherlands, scheduled for March 5 and 6 at Kyocera Dome in Osaka. The two-game set returns to the same venue where Japan swept the All-Europe All-Stars last year, including a combined perfect game.
Japan will make its return to the international stage for the first time since an upset loss to Chinese Taipei in the Premier12 Gold Medal Game at Tokyo Dome — a defeat that snapped the senior national team’s 27-game winning streak in major international competitions dating back to 2019. Looking to rebound, manager Hirokazu Ibata added two recently retired fan-favorites to the coaching staff, Atsushi Nomi and Nobuhiro Matsuda.
In typical Ibata fashion, the 28-man roster comprises a blend of established NPB stars, promising youngsters who recently broke out, and other fresh faces looking to make a strong impression at the national level.
No player from the Premier12 roster will be participating in the series, though several, including Chusei Mannami and Naoki Yoshikawa, had initially been slated to join but had to withdraw.
This new roster is headlined by Orix Buffaloes superstar Hiroya Miyagi and Nippon-Ham Fighters outfielder Chusei Mannami. Other elite NPB starters, Ryuhei Sotani, Atsuki Taneichi, Tatsuya Imai, and Ryosuke Ohtsu, were also selected.
The pitching staff is rounded out by high-octane relievers with impressive strikeout stuff, including Daichi Ishii, Kazuki Sugiyama, and Yukiya Saito. Additionally, Hiroshima Carp top prospect Hayato Tsunehiro received a call-up. Atsuya Horie, Ryusei Kawano, and Yuki Hashimoto also provide the team with strong left-handed options out of the pen.
The three catchers named to the roster are Yuudai Yamamoto — a prime candidate to be the starting backstop at the 2026 World Baseball Classic — and Yukinori Kishida and Takashi Umino. Shogo Sakakura, who was named to the Premier12 All-World team and has become a national team mainstay, will sit out at this event.
Hanshin Tigers star duo Yusuke Ohyama and Teruaki Sato will likely anchor the corner infield, while Yomiuri Giants Gold Glover Naoki Yoshikawa takes charge at second base. Hideki Nagaoka, Keito Mori, and Masaya Yano will vie for reps at shortstop, while Orix Buffaloes breakout youngster Ryo Ohta and SoftBank Hawks prospect Ryuta Hirose complete the infield corps.
The outfield will feature Chunichi Dragons slugger Seiya Hosokawa and the Nippon-Ham Fighters biracial duo of Chusei Mannami and Shun Mizutani, providing plenty of pop. Meanwhile, speedsters Akito Takabe and Kouki Kajiwara offer speed in center field.
In the opposing dugout, the Dutch will rely on veterans such as pitcher Tom De Blok and shortstop Didi Gregorius. Several players have experience from last year’s Team Europe squad and will be eager to exact revenge on Japan. The last time the two sides met in an exhibition series, the Samurai won both games, 9-8 and 12-10, in 2016.
Of course, the matchup isn’t solely about winning and losing. It also provides players on both sides with valuable national team experience by exposing them to high-intensity games early in the year — an important step in preparing for future major tournaments like the WBC.
Full Japan Roster
Pitchers
Hiroya Miyagi
Ryuhei Sotani
Atsuki Taneichi
Hayato Tsunehiro
Yukiya Saito
Yuki Hashimoto
Ryosuke Ohtsu
Ryusei Kawano
Atsuye Horie
Kazuki Sugiyama
Tatsuya Imai
Daichi Ishii
Catchers
Yukinori Kishida
Yuudai Yamamoto
Takashi Umino
Infielders
Yusuke Ohyama
Naoki Yoshikawa
Keito Mori
Hideki Nagaoka
Teruaki Sato
Ryo Ohta
Ryuta Hirose
Masaya Yano
Outfielders
Akito Takabe
Shun Mizutani
Seiya Hosokawa
Koki Kajiwara
Full Netherlands Roster
Pitchers
Eric Mendez Matos
Scott Prins
Lars Huijer
Koen Postelmans
Pim Vijfvinkel
Aaron De Groot
Ryan Huntington
Kevin Kelly
Tom De Blok
Shairon Martis
Juancarlos Sulbaran
Franklin Van Gurp
Wendell Floranus
Catchers
Donovan Antonia
Jair Van Borkulo
Yurdion Martie
Infielders
Stijn van der Meer
Junior Martina
Croes Dayson
Juremi Profar
Didi Gregorius
Sheryven Newton
Eugene Helder
Outfielders
Ray Patrick Didder
Jiandido Tromp
Rushenten Tomsjansen
Utility
Delano Selassa
Dwayne Kemp
