Coach Hideki Kuriyama of the Japan national team, who will face the WBC (World Baseball Classic) in March next year, inspected Shohei Otani of the Angels.
Manager Kuriyama is inspecting the major leagues for the WBC in March next year, and on the 12th he visited the home of the Angels, to which Ohtani belongs.
In the major leagues, there are cases where teams do not allow players to participate in the WBC, but Otani said last month, "I would like to play if selected," and attention is being paid to whether the first WBC appearance will be realized. .
Manager Kuriyama commented on Ohtani, who coached him during his days at Nippon-Ham, "He's a player who makes you wonder where the ceiling is, and that hasn't changed when we've been working together. Fans look forward to watching his movements." was the most impressive," he said.
And, "A player who has been facing a new big wall and has been trying to see if he can break it. In that sense, I feel that other countries will have really good players in this WBC, and I am looking forward to it. I will be doing it," he said.
Coach Kuriyama finished his inspection tour of the major leagues this time, saying, "The true meaning of the selection will be after we return. The level of pitchers in the major leagues has risen, and I thought it would be difficult if I didn't think about everything, so I'm going to make a solid selection from now on. I will continue."