Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto Named to Japan WBC Roster

The announcement of Samurai Japan’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic just sent a jolt of excitement through the baseball world. As the defending champs gear up to protect their crown, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto leads a squad packed with international heroes and elite MLB talent.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Headlines Samurai Japan’s WBC Roster

Right now, few names in international baseball carry as much weight as Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers right-hander made the final cut for Samurai Japan’s World Baseball Classic roster, putting an end to weeks of speculation about whether his heavy workload would sideline him.

Instead, Japan gets its ace back for another title run. Yamamoto joins Dodgers teammate Shohei Ohtani, once again forming the backbone of a pitching staff that already makes opponents uneasy.

For Japanese fans, seeing these two together brings back memories of that dominant 2023 WBC run. Yamamoto played a huge role in the rotation then.

Workload Concerns Put to Rest

People had plenty of questions about Yamamoto’s availability. During the 2025 MLB season, he started 30 regular-season games and tossed 173 2/3 innings, finishing up with a sharp 2.49 ERA.

That effort landed him a third-place finish in National League Cy Young Award voting. His work didn’t end there, though.

Yamamoto added another 37 1/3 postseason innings during the Dodgers’ push to a second straight World Series title. He capped it all off with a gutsy performance in the Fall Classic.

A Rotation Built on Big-Game Experience

Yamamoto’s postseason resume is exactly why Samurai Japan values him so much. In the 2025 World Series, he threw six innings of one-run ball in Game 6.

The very next night, he came back to record the final eight outs that clinched the championship. That kind of durability and nerve looks a lot like what he brought to the 2023 WBC.

Back then, he shared the rotation spotlight with Ohtani, Yu Darvish, Shota Imanaga, and Roki Sasaki. Sasaki—now also with the Dodgers—won’t pitch this year, but Yamamoto’s experience still matters a ton.

Leadership Beyond the Mound

Yamamoto has grown into a leader, not just a pitcher with elite stuff. His calm presence gives the manager and teammates real confidence, especially in a short tournament where one dominant outing can change everything.

Eight MLB Players Strengthen Japan’s Title Defense

Yamamoto is one of eight current major leaguers picked for Samurai Japan, which really shows off the depth and global reach of this roster. Alongside Ohtani and Yamamoto, the MLB crew includes:

This mix of power, precision, and postseason experience gives Japan a roster that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the field.

WBC Schedule and What Lies Ahead

The World Baseball Classic kicks off pool play on March 4. The championship game wraps things up on March 17 at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

Samurai Japan gets a head start, launching training camp in Miyazaki on February 14. There’s still one roster spot up for grabs, so fans have something to speculate about.

But let’s be honest—the core of the team looks solid. If Yamamoto’s arm stays healthy, Japan probably enters the WBC as the team to beat.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers star Yamamoto on Japan’s WBC roster