The World Baseball Classic (WBC) Japan national team is struggling with the empty space of its main hitters. The opening game of the tournament on the 9th is approaching, but the sense of hitting is not rising.
On the 2nd, the Japanese national team had a joint training with Nippon Professional Baseball Chunichi. Assuming 6 innings, he played 23 at-bats, but totaled only 4 hits and 3 walks. He also came out twice. He failed to record even one timely hit and ended up scoreless.
When asked about his impressions after meeting with reporters after training, Japanese national team coach Hideki Kuriyama smiled bitterly, saying, “As you think,” Japanese baseball media Full Count reported.
Munetaka Murakami (Yakult), who achieved the “Triple Crown” last year, Hotaka Yamakawa (Seibu), and Tetsut Yamada (Yakult) did not record a hit on this day either. Murakami withdrew with a strikeout on a swing and a fly ball in the outfield, and Yamakawa also struck out on a swing and grounded at shortstop. Yamada also failed to hit. They were also hitless in the practice game against Softbank on the 25th and 26th of last month. Yamakawa and Yamada remained on the ground after training that day and digested ‘special hits’.
Full Count said, “Wouldn’t the scoring power be revived if coach Kuriyama takes active leadership, such as using mobility closer to the real game, in the remaining four practice games before the opening of the tournament?” On the 3rd and 4th, the Japanese national team will play an evaluation match against Chunichi. On the 6th and 7th, a WBC official evaluation match against Hanshin and Orix is scheduled. 윈 토토
Coach Kuriyama is also looking forward to joining major leaguers such as Shohei Otani (LA Angels), Las Nuba (St. Louis), and Masataka Yoshida (Boston). It is expected that if they join, a “chemical reaction” will occur throughout the other line and the offensive power will be revived. Major leaguers such as Ohtani cannot participate in the evaluation match against Chunichi. Instead, he can participate in official evaluation matches against Hanshin and Orix.