Makihara Taisei Earns Second Consecutive World Baseball Classic Nod for Samurai Japan
Taisei Makihara (33) of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks has been selected for Samurai Japan to compete in the 2026 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™ (WBC), marking his second consecutive appearance in the tournament. Makihara's participation in this major event, following his role in the 2023 tournament, will once again put his proven skills to the test on the international stage. This time, a total of four players from the Hawks have been chosen for Samurai Japan alongside Makihara: pitcher Yuki Matsumoto (jersey number 66), infielder Ukyo Shuto (jersey number 20), and outfielder Kensuke Kondo (jersey number 8). They are expected to form the core of the team. Makihara, in particular, has elevated his status as a player in recent years, winning batting titles, a Golden Glove Award, and a Best Nine award. He will enter the WBC with this momentum. His jersey number for the tournament has been announced as "5". Makihara reportedly learned of his selection through a club announcement during...