Japan’s national baseball team is gearing up for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), beginning training camp in Miyazaki on Saturday, February 22, 2026. The team will receive guidance from special advisor Darvish Yu, who will participate in all training sessions in Miyazaki.
Several Major League Baseball (MLB) players are expected to join the national team during the Miyazaki training period, including pitcher Sugano Tomoyuki of the Colorado Rockies and pitcher Kikuchi Yusei of the Los Angeles Angels. According to reports, manager Hideki Endo revealed the players notified him of their arrival plans, though the exact dates are still to be determined.
The Japanese team began training on February 14, with a roster featuring nine MLB players. The domestic players started training in Miyazaki ahead of the MLB contingent. The team is scheduled for exhibition games against the SoftBank Hawks on February 22 and 23, followed by two games against the Chunichi Dragons on February 27 and 28 in Nagoya. Official exhibition games will be held at the Osaka Kyo Ceramic Dome on March 2 and 3.
Sugano is expected to participate in live batting practice next week and potentially pitch again in Miyazaki. Kikuchi has already completed a live batting practice session, throwing 49 pitches, and is scheduled for two more before departing for the United States on February 21. Sources indicate that outfielder Okamoto Kazuma (Toronto Blue Jays) and infielder Murakami Munetaka (Chicago White Sox) are expected to join the team directly in Osaka in March. Dodgers pitcher Yamamoto Yoshinobu also plans to meet the team in Osaka after completing his games in the United States, as stated by Endo.
The status of Shohei Ohtani remains unclear.
Sugano’s journey to the MLB is noteworthy, as his draft history involved a complex situation in 2011 and 2012, ultimately leading him to the Yomiuri Giants before his move to the Baltimore Orioles and now the Colorado Rockies. He signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Orioles in December 2024.
Darvish Yu is playing a key role as an advisor to the team, with a recent report detailing a dinner with manager Hideki Endo that was described as more tense than an actual game. The Yahoo Japan report highlighted the intensity of their preparation.
Yu Sheng-chieh, a Taiwanese player on the Japanese team, expressed his hope for a Japanese victory in the tournament. According to ETtoday, Yu stated he hopes Japan wins, despite representing Taiwan on the team.
