Japan manager Koji Yamamoto announced his 28-man roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic with few surprises on Wednesday as the two-time defending champs wrapped up their fifth day of training.
Cut from the first official roster were last year's Central and Pacific leagues' stolen base champs, a slow slugger with an injured hand and a pair of Chunichi Dragons relievers.
"Each and every day, the coaches and I went over the squad," Yamamoto said. "The guys who have been excluded today can still be called back."