Japan team supervisor Hideki Kuriyama.

(File photo, AFP)

[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] Japanese classic supervisor Hideki Kuriyama attended the WBC blessing ceremony at Kuriyama Tenmangu in Hokkaido today, and expressed concern that several major league players in the Samurai team may not be able to participate in the warm-up match.

The Japanese team sent the "Strongest Samurai Team" this time. The major league stars include Shohei Otani, the angel's second swordsman, Shuyu Darby, a strong pitcher for the Padres, Makoto Suzuki, a Cubs outfielder, Masataka Yoshida, who just joined the Red Sox, and Cardinals' Japanese player Nut. Lars Nootbaar.

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The Japanese team is expected to start a training camp in Miyazaki on February 17, and have two warm-up matches with Softbank, and then go to Nagoya to play against the Chunichi Dragons. The first match of the group stage will start on March 9.

Due to the overlap between the national team training and the spring training of major league teams, basically the major league players will not be able to participate in the warm-up match of the national team in February. Kuriyama Supervisor said that he has proposed to the major league that he hopes that the players can participate in the national team's warm-up match on February 25. Join the team, play warm-up games together, and are waiting for a reply.

Director Kuriyama said that although he has made preparations that the players will not be able to merge early, he still wants to make suggestions to the organizers, "If you really want the classic to become a more top-notch event, it is very important for the players to prepare themselves. Let me say this It’s not just for Japan, the status of major leagues can only be improved if major league players are free to join the national team.”

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