Three years ago, Samurai Japan fielded a team in the World Baseball Classic that might as well have been called the Future Dodgers. Playing both ways was Shohei Ohtani, who was employed by the Ange…
Three years ago, Samurai Japan fielded a team in the World Baseball Classic that might as well have been called the Future Dodgers.The rotation also included Roki Sasaki of the Chiba Lotte Marines, who was considered the most talented player the country had produced since Ohtani.
Behind Sasaki was a two-time Pacific League MVP from the Orix Buffaloes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Czechia and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. The golden age of Japanese baseball was here, and the team captured the moment by winning the tournament.Team USA suffers embarrassing loss to Italy — putting WBC chances at riskOhtani is now a two-time National League MVP. Yamamoto was the MVP of the World Series last year. Sasaki became an October hero as the team’s last-resort closer.The current version of Samurai Japan doesn’t have another Ohtani or Yamamoto. The team might not even have another Sasaki.Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki poses with a towel after he made a record of a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in Chiba, near Tokyo Sunday, April 10, 2022. There was a time when Hiroto Takahashi looked as if he was next in line. He was electric when appearing in the previous edition of the WBC as a 20-year-old. Pitching in relief against Team USA in the tournament final, he struck out Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt in succession in a scoreless fifth inning. Takahashi returned to the WBC stage on Tuesday, the now-23-year-old right-hander pitching 4 ⅔ innings in a 9-0 victory over Czechia in Samurai Japan’s last group-stage game.He struck out five. He allowed only two hits and a walk. He put up valuable zeroes that kept Japan in a game that remained scoreless until the eighth inning. But there was something underwhelming about his performance. Nothing about Japan’s Next Big Export screamed potential frontline major league starter. The problem wasn’t that Takahashi was worse than he was three years earlier. The problem was that he hadn’t improved as much as some observers anticipated.Hiroto Takahashi of Japan throws the ball during the first inning of the exhibition game between Japan national team and Hanshin Tigers prior to the Pool C games at the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Osaka, western Japan. The same scout projected Takahashi as a No. 3 or 4 starter in the majors, saying he might be a touch better than Tatsuya Imai, who signed a three-year, $54-million contract this winter with the Houston Astros. Something to keep in mind: Many teams’ No. 3 or 4 starters would have trouble making the Dodgers’ rotation. Takahashi touched 96.8 mph with his fastball, but the scout described the pitch as lacking movement and that his command was just “OK.” While his forkball was lethal, his other breaking balls were described as “fringy” to “average.” The expectations are that he will remain in Japan for another two or three years, as he will be classified as an international amateur until he turns 25. The designation will limit how much he can be paid, and, perhaps more important, how much his Japanese league team can receive as compensation for losing him. A couple of other down-the-road possibilities were featured after Takahashi on Tuesday: left-handers Hiroya Miyagi, 24, and Yuneto Kanemaru, 23. Neither pitcher is viewed as a sure thing, as both of them lack prototypical size of a major league starter. Miyagi is 5-foot-7 and Kanemaru is 5-10.Yoshinobu Yamamoto of Team Japan throws in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. There aren’t any locks on offense, either. This winter, the Dodgers weren’t interested in Munetaka Murakami, a two-time Central League MVP and former triple-crown winner. With major league teams concerned whether he could catch up to a major league fastball, Murakami settled for a two-year, $34-million contract. If the Dodgers passed on Murakami, they figure to not have interest in Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers, the top non-MLB hitting prospect on the team. The 26-year-old Sato led NPB with 40 homers last year, but struck out 163 times in 597 plate appearances.But whether they are the caliber of players for whom the Dodgers would engage in an all-out pursuit is an entirely different question. Because Ohtani, Sasaki and Yamamoto are different – not just here, but also back home.Team USA suffers embarrassing loss to Italy — putting WBC chances at riskGiants signing All-Pro kicker as special teams overhaul continuesShohei Ohtani of Team Japan looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Czechia and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki poses with a towel after he made a record of a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in Chiba, near Tokyo Sunday, April 10, 2022. Hiroto Takahashi of Japan throws the ball during the first inning of the exhibition game between Japan national team and Hanshin Tigers prior to the Pool C games at the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Osaka, western Japan. Yoshinobu Yamamoto of Team Japan throws in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Japan and Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
Sports California Japan Los Angeles Dodgers Roki Sasaki Shohei Ohtani Yoshinobu Yamamoto
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker returns to camp after welcoming new sonTucker is handling a whirlwind offseason of changes with an even-keel approach that has served him well.
Read more »
Tyler Glasnow passed on WBC to stay with Dodgers at spring trainingPHOENIX –– After Joe Ryan was scratched from Team USA’s roster for the group stage of the World Baseball Classic last week, one Dodgers player glanced toward Tyler Glasnow’s locker at Camelback Ran…
Read more »
Death Valley blossoms with once-in-a-decade superbloom of flowersVisitors are flocking to Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada to take in a rare phenomenon known as a superbloom. Thousands of long-dormant flowers have popped through the desert soil, transforming the barren landscape in carpets of gold.
Read more »
Miguel Rojas, Dodgers teammates look back on epic World Series Game 7Miguel Rojas and his Dodgers teammates look back on the all-time classic that was Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
Read more »
Fake Elon Musk Post Claiming Tesla Will Stop War Draft Dodgers Goes ViralA fake Elon Musk post saying Tesla could restrict vehicles during a draft has gone viral, prompting questions about what the company can do.
Read more »
Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki rebounds with dominant performance against minor-leaguersAfter two uneven performances in Cactus League games, Sasaki dominates minor-league hitters in a game on the back fields of Camelback Ranch on Tuesday.
Read more »