Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, per Yahoo! News Japan.
Yamamoto’s status for the WBC has been under question all offseason, with the Dodgers wanting to ensure he’d be healthy come the beginning of the 2026 season, especially after the prolonged season the Dodgers had.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman met with Team Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata during the Winter Meetings to discuss the participation of the Dodgers’ Japanese players.
“We’re very supportive of Samurai Japan and all that they’re trying to accomplish, and they’re very supportive of us,” Friedman said.