Miyazaki Training Camp Report: “A Sense of Awakening”》There are four key players in Samurai Japan’s pitching and hitting lineup! WBC Special Report

The lads who will lead Japan to be the best in the world

A FRIDAY reporter who visited the campsite in Miyazaki was convinced of the dynamism of the four key players–.

Daiya Miyagi (24) entered the Miyazaki bullpen for the first time on February 15. Every time he threw a powerful pitch, he checked the data displayed on his tablet with advisor Yu Darvish.

The 24-year-old, who was the world champion in the previous tournament, was named by Hirokazu Ibata, the manager leading the Samurai Japan team in this year’s tournament, as a key player in left field. After watching him pitch on this day, Ibata said, “He’s really starting to step up his game. He is throwing to the spot where the catcher is ready to throw.

His 150 km/h straight throw from his three-quarter form hits right-handed hitters in the knees, and his slider and change-up have a trajectory that left-handed hitters in the Majors have never seen before. He can also use his slow curveball to throw off timing. He is expected to be a second starter,” said the sports newspaper desk.

Miyagi was surprised by Atsuki Taneichi (27), who entered the bullpen on the same day. Miyagi, who watched Taneichi pitch from behind, looked into his tablet after each pitch and said, “I heard his fork was great. I was looking at the numbers, and it was amazing,” he said with a look of astonishment on his face. The same was true of the baseball coach, who was also enamored with Taneichi’s magic pitch.

He is satisfied with Taneichi’s ability to hit the ball in a variety of ways,” he said, suggesting that he would use Taneichi against major leaguers who are not good at falling pitches. Just as Shoyuki Togo (25) struck out Mike Trout (34) with his fork in the previous tournament, Taneichi’s fork may play havoc with the American batting lineup.

Shota Morishita (25), who was named a key player by Yasuhiro Mitsui, chief scorer of the 2009 WBC, has been making good use of his core strength, developed by playing medicine ball, and has been making a lot of noise in free hitting.

In a training game on March 22, he went on a rampage, scoring four runs on two hits, including a two-run homer. The young Tigers, who boast unparalleled strength on the big stage of international tournaments and playoffs, showed signs of awakening at the WBC.

Morishita took knocks in left, center, and right during the camp and renewed his determination “to be sent out with confidence no matter where he is assigned.

Morishita’s senior at Chuo University, Shugo Maki (27), spent a lot of time on the bench in the previous tournament, but will be the regular second baseman in this tournament. One of Maki’s greatest strengths is his ability as a mood-maker to lift the team’s spirits.

Kenya Wakatsuki (30), a candidate to be the regular catcher for the Samurai, immediately responded to a reporter who asked him about the atmosphere of the team during the camp, saying, “Maki is creating a good and cheerful atmosphere. In fact, Maki was the one who raised his voice the most during seat knock. The energizer who experienced the previous tournament will bring momentum and courage to the Samurai batting lineup.

From the March 13-20, 2026 issue of FRIDAY