WBC Preview - Pool C

International baseball is a different beast, and the WBC provides a platform for the whole world to view and enjoy this wonderful game. The passion that comes through from the participating nations brings a different flavor to the National Pastime. Our own Brandon Tew (our international expert) will be digging into each of the four pools and providing in-depth previews for each team. He predicts each team's lineup and rotation while highlighting players to watch in the tournament. He also predicts who he thinks will come out of each pool at the bottom (if you'd like to join in on the predictions, head over mlb.com and check out the bracket challenge https://www.mlb.com/moments/experiences/world-baseball-classic-bracket-challenge)

We hope you enjoy this series and all the action at the WBC!

Korea

WBSC World Rank: #4

WBC Appearances: 6/6

All Time WBC Record: 17-9 (advanced to knockout round 5/6)

Best Finish: Runner up 2009

2023 Performance: 2-2 record (Wins over Czech Republic/China, Losses to Japan and Australia) 3rd in Pool B, did not advance to knockout round for the first time.

Do-yeong Kim (Photo Credit: wbsc.org

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 5	Czechia	5 a.m. ET
March 7	Japan	5 a.m. ET
March 7	Taiwan	10 p.m. ET
March 9	Australia	6 a.m. ET

Starting Lineup

1B - Bo-gyeong Moon

_2B -_Hyeseong Kim

SS - Ju-won Kim

3B - Si-hwan Roh

C- Dong-won Park

_LF -_Jahmai Jones

_CF -_Jung Hoo Lee

RF - Hyun-min Ahn

DH - Do-yeong Kim

Rotation

LHP Hyun-jin Ryu __

RHP Been Gwak

RHP Dane Dunning __

RHP Young-pyo Ko

Other Top Arms

RHP Woo-suk Go

RHP Kyung-Eun Noh

RHP Woo-joo Jeong

RHP Byeong-hyeon Jo

RHP Hyeong-jun So

Preview

Team Korea enters the 2026 World Baseball Classic looking to rebound from a frustrating run of recent tournaments. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Korea again finished third in pool play, falling short of expectations in three straight WBCs. As has often been the case, pitching looms as the biggest question mark.

Health and overall ceiling of the rotation will dictate much of Korea's fate. An injury to Won Tae-in of the Samsung Lions and Moon Dong-ju of Hanwha thins the depth, and while there is some name recognition, performance varies. Hyun Jin Ryu brings veteran savvy and big-game experience, and Dane Dunning adds additional MLB experience. Been Gwak, a low-90s right-hander from the Doosan Bears, offers a deep mix and track record in the KBO, though he is coming off consecutive seasons with ERAs north of 4.20. It is a group that will have to compete and help the team stay in games early.

The bullpen has a more defined late-inning structure: Some combo of Woo Suk Go and Byeong Hyeon Jo as the primary options in the eighth and ninth innings. The challenge will be getting the ball to them. Veteran right-hander Kyung-Eun Noh of the SSG Landers is coming off one of his better seasons, and 19-year-old Woo Joo Jeong from the Hanwha Eagles adds youthful potential in a relatively higher velocity arm, but the middle innings remain pivotal.

Offensively, Korea has the firepower to carry the club through pool play. The outfield is anchored by Jung Hoo Lee, who will most likely play CF for Team Korea. He is eyeing a breakout campaign with the San Francisco Giants. Ja Wook Koo of the Samsung Lions is coming off a .918 OPS season with 19 home runs and 43 doubles as one of the better OFs in KBO, while Detroit Tigers OF Jahmai Jones adds another option in the opposite corner to lengthen the lineup. Hyun Min Ahn of the KT Wiz had an OPS of 1.018 in 2025 in just his second season, and the 22-year-old can play OF or DH in this lineup as well. It's likely Korea has some type of option off the bench in late-game pinch-hit situations to keep in the back pocket with some OF depth.

Do-yeong Kim is likely to play 3B or DH for this team. Do-yeong's 40-40 upside was on full display in the KBO in 2024 with a 1.067 OPS. With 38 homers and 40 steals for the Kia Tigers. However, injuries limited him in 2025. With the injury to Ha Seong Kim, Ju-won Kim of the NC Dinos is set to take over shortstop duties and has speed with 44 swiped pillows in 2025. Hyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers provides speed and on-base ability, potentially setting the table for the rest of the lineup. Si-hwan Roh slots in at 3B with his bat and defense, but Shay Whitcomb should get some playing time as the lineup shuffles around, and Si-hwan Roh could DH some, too.

If you do not know the name Do-yeong Kim yet, he is one of the best young ballplayers on the planet. 🇰🇷

Last night: 3 for 4, 2 HR, 5 RBI

The grand slam was off of NPB’s PL ERA title winner Livan Moinelo.

Front runner to win KBO MVP at just 20 years old.

He is the real deal. pic.twitter.com/CXfHtBj0BQ

— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) November 14, 2024

Hae-min Park of the LG Twins provides pinch-running and a late defensive CF option off the bench, with a KBO-leading 49 stolen bases in 2025. Dong-won Park of the LG Twins delivers consistent power behind the plate, with three consecutive 20+ HR seasons.

Ultimately, Korea's path forward is clear: the lineup must produce early and often. If the pitching staff can simply hold serve, the offense is talented enough to push them back into contention as the second-place team in Pool C.

X-Factors

Jung Hoo Lee

Lee will need to be the engine for this version of Team Korea. Slotted near the top of the lineup, he brings the blend of bat-to-ball skill, strike-zone awareness, and enough power that can immediately pressure opposing staffs. He's capable of flipping a game with one swing, but just as valuable is his ability to reach base consistently and let his speed impact the game. In a tournament setting where a single inning can decide advancement, Lee's ability to create traffic and manufacture runs could define Korea's ceiling. If Korea is going to keep pace in high-scoring pool games, Lee likely has to be special.

Do-yeong Kim

Kim is the young superstar that evaluators will be watching closely. His tools jump off the field, and against stronger international competition, he may need to serve as a central run producer. Kim's power-speed combination gives them that upside in the lineup. Like Lee and Hyeseong Kim, his presence on the bases forces defenses to make plays in multiple phases of the game.

Hyeseong Kim

Kim's value shows up in every phase. Defensively, he should be plus at second base, but able to shift across the diamond late in games when pinch-hitting opportunities for the Korean lineup present themselves. That versatility gives Korea flexibility in platoon situations and the ability to play chess with matchups. Offensively, he profiles as a table-setter, slashing line drives to all fields and using his speed to pressure defenses. His base-stealing instincts and first-step quickness when he takes his leads could make Korea one of the most dynamic running teams in the field with a leadoff hitter capable of swiping bags, but 5-6 guys who can create problems.

Czechia

WBSC World Rank: #15

WBC Appearances: 1/6

All Time WBC Record: 1-3 (has never advanced to the knockout round)

Best Finish: 4th place in Pool Play

2023 Performance: 1-3 record (Win over China, Losses to Japan, Korea and Australia) 4th in Pool B, did not advance to knockout round.

Martin Muzik (Photo Credit: Eugene Hoshiko)

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 5	Korea	5 a.m. ET
March 5	Australia	10 p.m. ET
March 6	Taiwan	10 p.m. ET
March 10	Japan	6 a.m. ET

Starting Lineup

1B - Martin Mužík

2B - Vojtěch Menšík

_SS -_Terrin Vavra

3B Willie Escala

C- Martin Červenka

LF - Milan Prokop

CF - Marek Krejčiřík

RF - Marek Chulp

DH - Michal Šindelka

Rotation

RHP Daniel Padyšák

RHP Ondřej Satoria

RHP Tomáš Ondra

LHP Ryan Johnson

LHP Jan Novák

Other Top Arms

LHP Jeff Barto

RHP Boris Večerka

RHP Ondřej Vank

RHP Marek Minařík

LHP Lukáš Ercoli

Preview

The Czech domestic league, Extraliga, supplies the backbone of Team Czechia's roster. While there are pockets of NCAA experience and even brief NPB farm exposure. A club largely comprised of amateur or semi-pro players. Balancing baseball with full-time jobs. The charm of this group is well established, but so is the talent gap. For Czechia to threaten anyone in pool play, they will need to keep games tight early, hoping "that's baseball, Suzyn" shows up a handful of times.

On the mound, Daniel Padyšák is the likely opener against Korea. The right-hander sits in the low-90s with his fastball, pairing it with a mid-80s slider and a big, low-70s curveball, also flashing a sparingly used changeup. Padyšák's résumé is among the strongest on the staff, with 4 years at Charleston Southern. Also time in the Coastal Plain League with the Savannah Bananas before the shift to Banana Ball, and 22.1 innings at Georgia in 2024, along with a short moment with Oisix in Japan's Eastern League. The plan will likely be two to three innings before piggybacking to a follower, preserving matchup flexibility.

Ondřej Satoria remains the staff's cult figure after striking out Shohei Ohtani in 2023. His arsenal is north-south, built around a high-70s fastball, a depth changeup, and an upper-60s curve. It's well below the speed limit in today's game of baseball, so sequencing and deception are critical.

Left-hander Jeff Barto works in the low-to-mid 80s with a four-seam fastball, a slower changeup, a slider, and a big curve, mixing effectively and leaning on fringy command. While Marek Minařík brings a low-90s sinker and a slider, Lukáš Ercoli and Jan Novák provide additional depth and international experience. A pitching staff that must win through the disruption of timing.

Offensively, Terrin Vavra is the most proven bat on the roster, the only player with MLB experience. Vavra played one game last season with the Orioles, but has been up with the big club in prior seasons. Vojtěch Menšík and Marek Chlup, both NC State products, add athleticism with stateside development. Chlup also logged time in the Yomiuri farm system in 2025, and a brief 2-game stint with the big team in NPB last season before an injury.

Veteran catcher Martin Červenka anchors the group with upper-minors experience across multiple organizations. At the same time, Michal Šindelka offers bat speed from a rhythmic toe-tap setup and experience in the 2025 MLB Draft League.

Willie Escala played with Miami (FL) in 2018 and 2019 before finishing his college career at Miami (OH) in 2022. I'm not sure how many players can make that claim. He’s played in the American Association and Frontier League in terms of Indy League experience, and also played for Czechia in the 2023 WBC.

The margin is thin, and Czechia likely goes winless in pool play, but you really never know with the game of baseball if some odd things might go their way to at least make an opponent uncomfortable.

X-Factors

Boris Večerka

Burying the lede here by waiting to mention Boris Večerka in the X-Factor section, but he has the best stuff on this staff; it's a couple of things to really like. He was an Arizona Diamondbacks signee, pitching some in Low-A Visalia. He can throw in the mid-90s and touch a little hotter with a sinker from a low release height. He will be intriguing to watch from the standpoint of how Czechia deploys a clearly talented arm like this.****

Marek Chulp

Marek Chulp has to be Czechia's best or 2nd-best hitter, with some athleticism in his game. The talent for him could surprise some people this tournament, and it will be nice to see him against some higher-level pitching to see if he can hold his own again in that tournament setting.

Daniel Padyšák

Has some of the best stuff on the pitching staff, and if he opens one of these games in pool play, it would be nice to keep things close and perform well as one of the domestic league's best pitchers.

Terrin Vavra

Would do a lot to put himself in a solid position to play well in this 2026 WBC and carry that into Triple-A Norfolk. He is looking like more of a Quad-A player at this point, but could provide up-and-down value for the Orioles when called upon. He will have to provide some big, timely hits for this bunch.

Taiwan

WBSC World Rank: #2

WBC Appearances: 6/6

All Time WBC Record: 5-12 (has advanced to the knockout round one time)

Best Finish: 1/4 Final (2013)

2023 Performance: 1-3 record (Win over China, Losses to Japan, Korea and Australia) 5th in Pool A (tied for second in record, lost on run differential tiebreaker) did not advance to knockout round.

Yu Chang (Photo Credit: World Baseball Network

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 4	Australia	10 p.m. ET
March 6	Japan	5 a.m. ET
March 6	Czechia	10 p.m. ET
March 7	Korea	10 p.m. ET

Starting Lineup

_1B -_Yu Chang

_2B -_Tzu-Wei Lin

_SS -_Tsung-Che Cheng

_3B -_Hao-Yu Lee

_C-_Lyle Lin

LF - Chieh-Hsien Chen

_CF -_Stuart Fairchild

RF - An-Ko Lin

_DH -_Kungkuan Giljegiljaw

Rotation

RHP Jo Hsi Hsu

LHP Wei-En Lin __

RHP Ruei-Yang Gu Lin

RHP Po-Yu Chen __

LHP Yu-Min Lin __

Other Top Arms

RHP Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang __

RHP Tzu-Chen Sha __

RHP Kai-Wei Lin

Preview

Despite a 2–2 finish in pool play and wins over Italy and the Netherlands. Taiwan still placed last in Pool A due to tiebreakers and was forced to re-qualify for the 2026 WBC. They return against a tougher pool, likely needing to lean on a pitching staff that quietly is one of the deeper units in the tournament.

The pitching staff has a blend of top CPBL arms and pitchers developing in MLB, KBO, and NPB organizations. Jo Hsi Hsu carried the team through the 2025 qualifiers and may own the best four-seam fastball on the roster. The heater fluctuates from 92-98 mph within starts, flashing carry, and bat-missing life at the top of the zone. He heads to NPB, pitching for SoftBank in 2026.

Another NPB pitcher is his former CPBL teammate Ruei-Yang Gu Lin, who logged just 32.1 innings with Nippon-Ham in 2025 but showed flashes of top-20-caliber stuff in NPB, including a good low-90s fastball and solid breaking balls.

Wei-En Lin headlines a trio of Athletics prospects. The 20-year-old lefty works in the low-to-mid 90s from a higher slot, creating above-average extension down the mound. He pairs a lifted slider in the mid-80s with a big mid-70s curveball, while a newer Vulcan changeup flashes plus and has pushed him into Top 100 prospects conversations.

Yu-Min Lin, a Diamondbacks lefty, mixes a low-vert four-seam in the low-90s with a splitter/forkball, changeup, slurvy breaker, and big curve, relying on sequencing and feel from a three-quarters slot. It's again seven pitches to handle in a possible starting or piggyback role.

Po-Yu Chen, a Pirates product and a right-hander who threw in the 2025 qualifiers. He was up in velocity in the qualifiers, more mid-90s than the low-90s he was sitting in Double-A Altoona. He had a brief stint at Triple-A to end his minor league season and again offers a low-90s profile, with a big 75-79 mph curve that creates timing disruptions.

The lineup is steady and experienced, with enough talent to win games. Yu Chang delivered two of the most memorable home runs of the 2023 WBC and remains the emotional and run-producing centerpiece in the middle of the order.

YU CHANG GRAND SLAM FOR CHINESE TAIPEI! ⚡️⚡️⚡️

📺: FS2 and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/r8YNFOFPTb

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 11, 2023

Stuart Fairchild brings MLB experience and a grind-it-out approach, capable of extending at-bats and limiting his chase. Hao-Yu Lee, a Tigers top-10 prospect, offers a decently high floor as a prospect but is marred by platoon splits and contact issues. If he crushes left-handed pitching in this tournament, when given the chance, and taps into his raw power. It could strengthen the lineup's ceiling, particularly since Cubs prospect Jonathan Long is out with a left elbow injury.

The most complete roster Taiwan has ever fielded. The lineup has balance, and the pitching staff offers legitimate depth and flexibility. They profile as a dark horse capable of pushing for a knockout-round spot, especially if the arms show up against Australia and Korea, the likely competition for second in the pool. They have enough pitching to compete with Japan on paper, but that matchup would serve as the true litmus test for any deep-run aspirations.

X-Factors

Jo Hsi Hsu

He will have to be one of the better pitchers in Pool C, and he has the talent to throw his fastball by any hitter. It will be key for him to throw at his upper velocity band in these shorter outings. The athletic right-hander explodes down the mound and creates serious hip-shoulder separation. Still, it's mainly maintaining that move throughout the start and mixing in the rest of his arsenal to help him win with his fastball.

Wei-En Lin

The talent is there, and he provides a left-handed pitching option that can neutralize some high-power lineups in this pool. He will likely get the ball vs either Korea or Japan, and an outside shot at pitching against Australia. It will be key for him to keep the lineup within striking distance whenever he takes the bump.

Ruei-Yang Gu Lin

Gu Lin's role on this team will be interesting to follow, whether he's a one-inning guy or more of a follower off of one of the starters. He could start a game in pool play, but he is one of the most talented pitchers on this staff. While they have options, he will have to perform when handed the baseball.

Australia

WBSC World Rank: #10

WBC Appearances: 6/6

All Time WBC Record: 5-12 (has advanced to the knockout round one time)

Best Finish: 1/4 Final (2023)

2023 Performance: 3-2 record (Wins over Korea Czech Republic and China, Losses to Japan and Cuba) 2nd in Pool B (lost to Cuba 4-3 in 1/4 final).

Travis Bazzana (Photo Credit: Baseball is Everything Network)

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 4	Taiwan	10 p.m. ET
March 5	Czechia	10 p.m. ET
March 8	Japan	6 a.m. ET
March 9	Korea	6 a.m. ET

Starting Lineup

1B - Rixon Wingrove

_2B -_Travis Bazzana

SS - Jarryd Dale

_3B -_Curtis Mead

C- Robbie Perkins

LF - Tim Kennelly

CF - Aaron Whitefield

RF - Robbie Glendinning

_DH - Alex Hall /_Ulrich Bojarski __

Rotation

LHP Jack O'Loughlin __

LHP Lachlan Wells

LHP Alex Wells __

LHP Josh Hendrickson

Other Top Arms

RHP Warwick Saupold

RHP Sam Holland

LHP Blake Townsend

RHP Mitch Neunborn

LHP Jon Kennedy

Preview

Australia enters the 2026 World Baseball Classic coming off its best tournament showing, highlighted by an 8-7 win over Korea in the opening pool-play game and a trip out of pool play before a quarterfinal loss to Cuba. They leaned heavily into bullpen chess, limiting starters to two trips through the order and matching up aggressively. Expect a similar, all-hands approach in this tournament.

The staff is anchored by three low-90s lefties with upper-level Minor League experience and some MLB service time. Jack O'Loughlin logged 9.2 MLB innings with Oakland in 2024. While working 45.2 innings in Triple-A Albuquerque in 2025. He wins with strike-throwing and separating a big curveball and gyro slider while occasionally mixing a changeup with a late drop.

Alex Wells is playing in the WBC for the first time. He threw 42.2 MLB innings in 2021 with the Orioles and features an 88-89 mph four-seam with carry from a higher slot and a big breaking ball he can land for strikes. At his best, he sequences and commands a four-pitch mix to both sides of the zone.

His twin, Lachlan Wells, recently spent time in KBO mid-season as an injury replacement for Kiwoom. He showed enough solid stuff in his 4 starts to sign a contract with the LG Twins for this upcoming season. He profiles similarly as a command-driven lefty, unafraid to mix early and use deception from a deep arm stroke to keep hitters off of his pitches with a little deception. Both of the Wells Twins are the most recent ABL MVPs and will look to keep the Aussies in the game early when they take the mound.

Josh Hendrickson has spent time in the Phillies' organization, reaching Triple-A for 10 innings in 2023. He has been in both the American Association and Atlantic League since then, as well as pitching in ABL. He has a six-pitch-to-five-pitch mix with some crowded but distinct shapes. ranging from 90-73 mph. A four-seam, changeup, cutter, slider, baby slurve, and curveball. He will be putting his arsenal into the mixing bowl to find the right combos.

Veteran righties Sam Holland and Warwick Saupold add versatility. Holland's low stone-skipping sidearm slot creates a tough angle in leverage spots, and he got out of a big bases-loaded jam against Korea late in the game in 2023. Saupold brings a low-90s fastball, knuckle-curve, and a combo that can keep hitters in check. Blake Townsend offers a funky, low-slot look from the left side as a matchup option with his sweeper possibly being spammed to left-handed hitters. Mitch Neunborn changes speeds effectively with a slow mid-to-high-70s changeup, cutter/slider variations, and a big curveball for lefties and a slurve for righties, and a touching low-90s fastball that plays up with shape.

Travis Bazzana is the headliner and emotional catalyst, capable of shifting momentum with one swing or taking an extra base on the base paths. Logan Wade could be a bench piece in the infield after a .917 OPS in the last WBC. He or Jarryd Dale will be the anchor of the infield, and Dale always seems to find himself in big moments on the international stage. Curtis Mead will be counted on for middle-of-the-order production as he looks to find some success, heading into a possible platoon spot on the South Side of Chicago this season. The outfield trio of Tim Kennelly, Aaron Whitefield, and Robbie Glendinning blends ABL pedigree with some pop. Glendinning also offers defensive flexibility at 3B, 2B, and LF. Kennelly is the ABL all-time hits leader, surpassing 500 hits, and announced his retirement from the league after the 2025-26 season. The 39-year-old will look to leave his stamp on Australian baseball one more time in his likely final WBC. Aaron Whitefield will roam CF again, and the former ABL MVP is still one of the league's best hitters.

What a moment! Robbie Glendinning with a 3 run shot to put the Aussies on top! #WBC #Australia #baseball pic.twitter.com/3ky1e4owtl

— Sandlot_Talk (@TalkSandlot) March 9, 2023

Australia has continuity, experience, and a defined identity. To advance from a group featuring Taiwan and Korea, they will need crisp execution, timely power, and another well-orchestrated bullpen performance.

X-Factors

Curtis Mead

Curtis Mead received inconsistent playing time with the Rays and has a new MLB home with the White Sox. The WBC is a chance to put his best foot forward and be a hitter that can drive in some runs and work himself on base in this lineup as one of the more talented position players.

Travis Bazzana

If Travis Bazzana has a big tournament, Australia will likely be in a position to advance from this pool. It still looks like an above-average to plus hit tool, and he controls the strike zone as a young prospect better than most. He plays with pure joy and energy and could be the type of guy who fires up his teammates in big moments.

Robbie Glendinning

You could make an argument that Aaron Whitefield roaming CF will have to be just as productive as Glendinning. Still, I am picking Robbie, who, if he can provide some slug and maybe pop a big homer again, could help Australia advance out of the pool.

Japan

WBSC World Rank: #1

WBC Appearances: 6/6

All Time WBC Record: 30-8 (has advanced to the knockout round all 6 appearances)

Best Finish: Champions (2006, 2009, 2023)

2023 Performance: 7-0 record (Wins over Australia, Czech Republic, Korea, China, Italy, Mexico, USA) 1st in Pool B (Champions for the third time).

Shohei Ohtani (Photo Credit: Sam Navarro)

Team Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
March 6	Taiwan	5 a.m. ET
March 7	Korea	5 a.m. ET
March 8	Australia	6 a.m. ET
March 10	Czechia	6 a.m. ET

Starting Lineup

_1B -_Munetaka Murakami

_2B -_Shugo Maki

_SS -_Kaito Kozono

_3B -_Kazuma Okamoto

C- Kenya Wakatsuki

_LF -_Masataka Yoshida

_CF -_Seiya Suzuki

_RF -_Kensuke Kondoh

_DH -_Shohei Ohtani

Rotation

RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto __

RHP Hiromi Itoh __

LHP Yusei Kikuchi __

RHP Tomoyuki Sugano __

LHP Hiroya Miyagi __

Other Top Arms

RHP Taisei Ota

RHP Atsuki Taneichi __

RHP Koki Kitayama

RHP Hiroto Takahashi __

Preview

A definite top-three to top-four roster in this version of the WBC, the defending champs will have to perform at their best to take home the crown again. It's a rotation with really good talent, featuring a top-five pitcher in the world, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who did special things in the World Series as the Dodgers won back-to-back titles. Yamamoto is a power pitcher with 70-80-grade command and the ability to move his entire arsenal throughout the zone.

Hiromi Itoh just won a Sawamura Award and is the best pitcher in NPB right now, production-wise. He's a workhorse who throws a comically deep Yu Darvish-type arsenal with 13-14 pitches, but slimming his pitch usage and arsenal down to a main four pitches has really boosted him. He possesses one of the best fastballs in NPB and will be a key pitcher in the later stages of the tournament. To read more about Itoh, check out my Scouting Report on him.

Yusei Kikuchi and Tomoyuki Sugano bring steady experience as MLB arms, and while neither has had the most success this past season. They still provide a level of left-handed success and a softer-tossing command-style change-of-pace. I don't expect Sugano to go deep versus Australia, and Kikuchi could also have a quick hook against Korea, with some better follower-type arms that Manager Ibata can mix into the fold.

Samurai Japan 🇯🇵 potential WBC game plan

March 6 vs. Chinese Taipei 🇹🇼 Starter: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Follower: Hiroya Miyagi Catcher: Kenya Wakatsuki

March 7 vs. Korea 🇰🇷 Starter: Yusei Kikuchi Follower: Hiromi Itoh Catcher: Seishiro Sakamotohttps://t.co/xVGdFYODl5

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) March 1, 2026

I'm including Hiroya Miyagi in the Rotation because, while he might not start a game, I could see him taking the bulk of the work in a pool-play game against Korea or Taiwan and it seems it might be him following Yamamoto vs Taiwan. In the latter stages of the tournament, Ibata could shift to a more go-to role out of the pen, getting the best left-handed hitters in the world, for example, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. He's in a clear tier of top pitchers in NPB.

Atsuki Taneichi had a breakout second half in NPB, with a league-leading 30.4% K rate from July onward. In that same span, the next-closest qualified starter was Hiromi Itoh at 24.8%. The four-seam has carry, and he curls his middle finger on the ball. He was sitting a tick or two harder in the second half, and his splitter is hard and dives off the table late as a swing-and-miss pitch.

Atsuki Taneichi 4s Grip

Koki Kitayama also has a really good four-seam fastball and can mix in some nice breakers and offspeeds. He will be a piggyback-type pitcher in this tournament, able to handle multiple innings. He could be used late in games as well with his fastball and splitter. Hiroto Takahashi had a down year this past season, with poor four-seam fastball production despite sitting 95 mph on the pitch, as he got hammered by left-handed hitters. He doesn't create a lot of spin on his pitches, but he's still extremely talented and will either be used to rack up some innings or, in big moments, get a groundball with his splinker, having hitters pound the baseball into the ground as it sinks to the plate.

Taisei Ota is one of the best relievers in the world and has dominated NPB. He throws from a sidearm slot and obliterates the top of the zone with mid-to-upper-90s four-seamers. He also has a splitter that can fold hitters like a lawn chair if they gear up for the heat and go fishing in the dirt. Taisei is a nightmare to face, but he will have to be his absolute best when pitching late in the game versus the world's best, something he hasn't always done for Samurai Japan.

Best splitter/forkball in NPB:

1. Haruto Inoue: 55.4% Chase%/46.9% Whiff%.
2. Raidel Martinez: 50% Chase%/43.6% Whiff%
3. Chihiro Sumida: 49.8% Chase%/42.7% Whiff%
4. Shunsuke Nakamori: 49.3% Chase%/46.2% Whiff%
5. Taisei Ota: 47.2% Chase%/45.2% Whiff%

pic.twitter.com/G0l3FXjEkT

— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) January 10, 2026

Samurai Japan's strength once again rests in the top and middle of its lineup. There is a logjam at third base and in the outfield, which should create matchup-based flexibility and late-game pinch-hitting opportunities to maximize run production.

There was plenty of offseason discussion about Munetaka Murakami and his in-zone contact issues. The power, however, is undeniable. Slotted at first base for this club and preparing for his MLB transition with the Chicago White Sox, he remains one of the premier left-handed threats in the tournament. A big WBC showing before his first MLB season would be nice to see.

Kazuma Okamoto offers a different, but equally enticing, profile. He has been a steady, middle-of-the-order force in NPB and could see even more over-the-fence impact with livelier MLB baseballs. With the NPB ball playing notoriously dead in recent seasons, Okamoto's ability to lift the ball to the pull side, with a smooth, controlled swing, is fun to watch when he's locked in.

Shugo Maki remains a personal favorite. The medium-framed second baseman has MLB aspirations and legitimate power, and showed it in the last WBC. Hitting behind established boppers, he should see pitches to damage and can keep innings rolling with extra-base impact.

At shortstop, Kaito Kozono brings more offensive upside after a 127 OPS+ season with Hiroshima, though the glove is below-average. Sosuke Genda is no longer at his absolute peak but remains one of NPB's premier defenders, with soft hands and a lightning-quick glove to hand release. This spot could also create at-bats for Teruaki Sato while deploying Genda as a late-inning defensive specialist.

Behind the plate, Kenya Wakatsuki, a strong starting option, particularly given his familiarity with Orix arms Ryuhei Sotani and Hiroya Miyagi. While Seishiro Sakamoto provides elite framing and steady offensive value, Yuhei Nakamura adds another option as a third catcher. The depth allows for more substitutions.

The outfield is crowded with high-end talent. Seiya Suzuki likely handles center, flanked by Kensuke Kondoh and Masataka Yoshida. Shota Morishita is an uber-talented youngster who deserves playing time, while reigning Central League MVP Teruaki Sato's left-handed power plays off the bench, he could get starts in the tournament as well.

The bigger concern may lie on the mound. Injuries to Shunpeita Yamashita and Kaima Taira, and the exclusion of Roki Sasaki and Tatsuya Imai, thin the staff, leaving less margin for error. Still, Japan has built a reputation for elevating its play in semifinal and final settings. The lineup depth gives them a chance to outscore opponents even if the rotation lacks some of its usual firepower. And while Shohei Ohtani might not be pitching this tournament, he's the ultimate trump card when all the cards are on the table.

X-Factors

Shohei Ohtani

Yes, I did not talk about Ohtani in the preview section. Still, he's the biggest x-factor in this tournament, able to carry his team on his shoulders with a gaudy ability hit the longest home run of the tournament. Shohei Ohtani is the best player in the sport, and if he does unicorn things in the batter's box, there's nothing else to do but just appreciate his greatness if it does happen again. He's THE BIGGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER in the tournament, as Dan O'Dowd likes to say...

Hiroya Miyagi

Close your eyes and dream, Japan is facing the USA in the Finals, and the tap of the left arm comes as Miyagi comes jogging out of the pen late in the game to face Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. His inclusion on this roster is to get out the best left-handed hitters in the world. In the Quarters, he could face a top of the order Venezuela, having to work through a tough lefty at-bat, and two righties, maybe Luis Arraez at one point. And Ronald Acuna Jr is always lurking. Miyagi creates outlier release angles from a cross-body look, and his command of the fastball glove-side is special, and his sweeper is nasty for both lefties and righties.

Kensuke Kondoh

Kensuke Kondoh is the best pure hitter in NPB and will need to be a force in the lineup, likely protecting some of the bigger bats, with an ability to work the count and drive his pitch. He will have the opportunity to break games open and drive in runs. He has a balanced stance, and his presence in the batter's box is remarkable at times, as his understanding of the zone is phenomenal. With plate discipline, he annihilates fastballs!

Brandon's Predictions

Japan will likely be the top team in Pool C, and while some teams might push them in a game or two, their overall talent is the best in this group. Taiwan's pitching and Korea's lineup will clash. Australia, if they have great performances, has a chance to pull an upset and advance.

We will know pretty early in Pool C play where everything stands. Korea's combo of speed and power will be hard to keep in check. While Taiwan is a dark-horse team for many people, they will have to throw most of their staff at Korea and Australia to pull out wins. Czechia is a better team this time around, but will likely finish last in this group, and is scrappy enough to make some innings at least interesting early in games.

Pool Winner

Japan

Pool Runner-up

Korea

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