For the WBC = World Baseball Classic of baseball to be held in March, Hideki Kuriyama, the manager of the Japan national team, will call Masanao Yoshida, who transferred from Orix to the Red Sox of the major leagues, as a representative member. clarified.
This was revealed in response to an interview with the press after Japan national team coach Kuriyama attended the opening ceremony of Nippon-Ham's new stadium held in Kitahiroshima City, Hokkaido on the 5th.
Coach Kuriyama revealed that he had talked directly with Yoshida during the selection of the national team members, and said, "This New Year, I really thought about it and talked with Yoshida about various things. It's not easy to challenge the major leagues, so We have to prepare and respond, but as we talked, I felt Yoshida's feelings for the Japanese fans and the Hinomaru."
Coach Kuriyama then said, "I want the WBC to wear the Japanese flag. I made that decision myself. I'm talking about wanting to join us when the game starts," and Yoshida as a member of the national team. I made it clear that I would convene as
Yoshida, who has been playing for the Red Sox since this season, has been the top hitter for the Orix twice. made a major contribution.
Also, in the Japan national team, he was appointed as the number 3 hitter at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, and contributed to Japan's gold medal win.
If Yoshida joins the Japanese national team in the WBC, he is expected to participate in the first round at the Tokyo Dome.