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Japan U-18 baseball national team preparations
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2026-08-31 07:00 UTC → 2026-09-10 08:34 UTC ·
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Preparations for the Samurai Japan U-18 representative teams have intensified ahead of the 14th BFA U-18 Baseball Asia Championship in Taipei. At the high school level, Yokohama High School appointed Kei Kawakami as captain following the summer Koshien tournament. Both Kawakami and pitcher Tetsusaburo Kobayashi were selected for the U-18 national team. On August 29, a send-off match was held at Jingu Stadium between the University Japan and High School Japan teams, with the university side winning 7-1. The event featured new team uniforms under a contract between NPB Enterprise and New Balance, which replaced Mizuno as the supplier. During the match, high school pitcher Shoki Oda, identified as a top prospect for both the NPB draft and Major League Baseball, pitched two innings. Despite allowing six runs, scouts from organizations including the New York Yankees maintained high interest in his talent. During the ongoing U-18 Asian Championship, Japan has advanced to the super round following a perfect first-stage performance. Coach Atsushi Hirakawa indicated that Oda, a right-handed pitcher capable of throwing 157 km/h, may be utilized as a closer, with the potential to pitch in three consecutive days against South Korea, Taiwan, and in the final, subject to strict pitch count limitations. Regarding his professional future, Oda is reportedly considering Major League Baseball (MLB) as a career path. Under MLB international amateur free agency rules, he could negotiate directly with teams for potentially higher signing bonuses. While the New York Yankees have shown interest, reports suggest the Los Angeles Dodgers are a leading candidate due to their development system and existing Japanese presence.
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- 2026-09-10 08:34 UTC Japan U-18 baseball national team preparations
- 2026-08-31 07:00 UTC Japan U-18 baseball national team preparations
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