The manager Hiroki Kokubo of the Japan national baseball team that officially nicknamed Samurai Japan, announced Shohei Ohtani of the Hokkaido NipponHam Fighters is out of roster for 2017 World Baseball Classic in February 3. Ohtani hurt his right ankle last year in the Japan series and still has pain. So Otani can not practice pitching, he will not be thrown in the opening game of 2017 season.
How is a degree of Ohtani’s injury? Former Los Angeles Dodgers Kazuhisa Ishii had the same injury as Ohtani, so Ishii told for Otani in the Japanese newspaper. According to it, Ankle injury is not enough that the pitcher can not pitch but the bones are deformed and the pain never completely disappears. So Ishii took surgery in the off season and chewed on him, he is also recommending surgery to Otani as it is three months recovery time.
Otani was scheduled to a starting pitcher of the game with Cuba in March 7, the japan team is planning to convene one starting pitcher. The first candidate is Shota Takeda of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. Takeda is the age of 23, and he was drafted by the Hawks in the 1st round in 2011 npb draft. He convented in the Japan national baseball team of 2015 WBSC Premier12, and contributed to the third place of Japan. He also played in the friendly games with Mexico national baseball team last year.
The second candidate is Yusuke Nomura of the Hiroshima Carp. Nomura is the age of 27, and he was drafted by the Carp in the 1st round in 2011 npb draft. He was chosen the Rookie of the Year with his fine record of 9 wins in 2012. After that, Nomura won 16 and became the pitcher with the most wins of Central League in 2016 season. He played in the friendly games with Mexico national baseball team last year, but Nomura allowed to hit 3 home runs.
Another candidate is Yudai Ono of the Chunichi Dragons. Ono is the age of 28, and he was drafted by the Dragons in the 1st round in 2010 npb draft. He convented in the Japan national baseball team of 2015 WBSC Premier12, and contributed to the third place of Japan. Ono is motivated to participate in the Japan team, he told that wants to join as a backup member. There are no left-handed starting pitchers in the Samurai Japan, so Ono may become a precious player.
This youtube’s video is the movie that the opening game of 2015 WBSC Premier12. Ohtani played in this game with South Korea, he pitched ６ innings with 10 strikeouts. His fastball recorded 100 mph（161 km), Japan beat South Korea 5 to 0. It is a pity that Otani’s pitching can not be seen in 2017 World Baseball Classic.
