Tokyo: Hours before Japan embarked on its title defense at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on home turf, manager Hirokazu Ibata emphasized the need for an aggressive approach from the beginning. "Now it's finally here. I've told the players we should all compete together as one," Ibata remarked before Japan's initial Pool C match against Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome. He highlighted the importance of taking it one game at a time and expressed a desire for all 30 players to embrace an aggressive style of play.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the distinguished 2025 World Series MVP for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is set to start the game for Japan. Ibata expressed his hopes for Yamamoto to energize the team and encouraged him to maintain his individuality on the field.
In a light-hearted exchange with reporters, Ibata declined to reveal his starting lineup immediately, joking that they would discover it soon enough. He assured that there were no particular spots in the lineup that required extensive contemplation.
Chinese Taipei faces a critical match after their loss to Australia on Thursday. Right-hander Cheng Hao-Chun will be tasked with keeping Chinese Taipei's quarterfinal aspirations alive by securing a top-two finish in Pool C. Ibata acknowledged the challenge posed by Cheng's fastball and urged his team to be aggressive while maintaining a strategic approach at the plate.
Ibata, noted for being the only Japanese national team manager with prior WBC playing experience, reiterated that aggression involves focused and intentional competition from the outset. He warned against the danger of passivity and encouraged his players to adopt an assertive mindset from the first pitch.