WBSC Premier12 2019 MVP Seiya Suzuki announced his intention to represent Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic through his Twitter account.
After starring for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Suzuki signed for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) in March.
A five-time All-Star and two-time Central League batting champion in Japan, Suzuki appeared in 111 games for the Cubs in the 2022 season, going 104-for-397 (a .262 batting average) with 14 home runs.
His manager David Ross showed support for Suzuki's decision.
"I put myself in his shoes. I would have loved to play for Team USA. How cool is that? I would never want to take that away from anybody and always kind of push that experience. You should play if that's where your heart is."
Suzuki led Japan to first place with a .444 batting average and three home runs at the WBSC Premier12 2019. He was also a part of Japan's gold medal success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
World No.1 Japan will compete in Group B of the 2023 World Baseball Classic and will face world No. 3 Korea, No. 10 Australia, No. 14 Czech Republic and No. 21 China on home soil at the Tokyo Dome (9-13 March).
