LOS ANGELES — Daisuke Matsuzaka used the 2006 World Baseball Classic as a stepping stone to a career in the major leagues.

Three years later, there may be a lot of Asian players preparing to follow in his footsteps.

Whether or not Asian players are good enough to play in the MLB was a hot topic during the semifinal round of the 2009 WBC in Los Angeles. The play of finalists Japan and South Korea during the tournament has many thinking Asia could have a larger MLB presence in the coming years.