Nine World Cup medallists, two World Champions, fill Japan roster for WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup

World No. 2 Japan announced its 16-man roster to compete in the inaugural edition of the WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup, to be staged in Parana, Argentina, from 15-23 April. The roster includes seven members of the 2018 silver-medal U-19 National Team, and two players that claimed the 2020 U-18 world title.

Japan’s roster is as follows:

1. Shin Hamada – Infielder 
2. Yutaro Inoue – Infielder
3. Tomoki Kikukawa - Outfielder
4. Haruto Kuroiwa – Infielder
5. Yoshinari Matsumoto - Outfielder
6. Shoki Matsuo - Infielder 
7. Kaito Miyamoto – Infielder 
8. Yuta Motozuka – Catcher
9. Hitto Nagayoshi – Infielder 
10. Ayumu Nishimori – Catcher
11. Ryuji Okawa – Infielder 
12. Taiga Onishi – Pitcher
13. Shota Onodera – Pitcher
14. Koki Sato - Outfielder
15. Kazuya Umibe - Pitcher 
16. Koki Yagi – Pitcher

Head coach Hiroshi Ishimura will manage an experienced roster with nine WBSC World Cup medallists. The four pitchers in the staff have previous participation in WBSC World Cups, with Onishi, Onodera and Umibe being part of the 2018 team, while Yagi led the staff in 2020, pitching a five-inning complete game in his team’s 9-2 win over Australia in the final.

The team also includes Nagayoshi, who was named the MVP of the 2020 U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, and Matsuo, who led the 2018 U-19 World Cup in hits and RBI. 

The roster also include players with experience in the Japan Men’s Softball League.