Yamamoto Yu-nobu becomes eighth Japanese multiple-time MLB All-Star

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yamamoto Yu-nobu was named to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game for a second consecutive year, making him only the eighth Japanese player ever to be selected more than once. His selection joins Shohei Ohtani, who topped the fan vote despite withdrawing due to a knee issue, and Murakami Munetaka, who will pitch in the Home Run Derby, marking three Japanese representatives at this year’s All‑Star event.

The 2026 season also saw a record‑high presence of Japanese talent in Major League Baseball, with 15 Japanese‑born players on active rosters across both leagues. The list includes Ohtani, Yamamoto, and rookie Murakami, as well as veterans such as Yu Darvish, Kenta Maeda, and emerging stars like Kōma Okamoto and Riku Nishida. Notable achievements this summer featured Ohtani reaching his 300th career home run and Okamoto hitting his first MLB grand slam. The growing Japanese contingent continues to draw significant attention from fans in Japan and abroad.