The Team Japan WBC champions are on top of the world. After Shohei Ohtani struck out his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end the ninth, the nation rejoiced. Their run was flawless as they didn’t lose a single game the entire tournament.
They had a deep roster, not just Ohtani. Several of their players could eventually be headed to the MLB. So, which ones might make the jump?
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5 Team Japan WBC champions that could head to MLB
5) Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was excellent for Team Japan. Through the World Baseball Classic, he recorded a 0.82 WHIP in 7.1 innings. He was a key player in their championship run.
4) Shugo Maki
Shugo Maki blasted two home runs and had an .850 OPS during the World Baseball Classic. The infielder would have a place in the MLB with those sorts of numbers, so he may be interested in eventually making the leap.
3) Yuhei Nakamura
Yuhei Nakamura was instrumental in Team Japan’s WBC win. Not only did he hit .429 and was a consistent offensive threat when he played, but he also caught. The Japanese pitching staff was excellent overall, and the catchers played a role in that.
2) Munetaka Murakami
Munetaka Murakami is one of the most likely future MLB stars for Team Japan. He hit 56 home runs in a season in the Nippon Baseball League and came alive in the WBC to lead Japan to victory.
1) Roki Sasaki
MLB teams are already awaiting Roki Sasaki’s arrival. He’s just 21 but has some of the best stuff of any pitcher in the game. It might be a while before he can post to MLB, but many teams are already keeping an eye on him.