Kenta Kurihara was with Samurai Japan for just two games at the World Baseball Classic.
Despite it's brevity, that stint with the world champions may make all the difference for the Hiroshima Carp star this season.
Rarely seen without a smile on his face before or since the WBC, Kurihara has burst out of the gates for the Carp in 2009. The first baseman has opened the year batting .474 with two home runs and nine RBIs in the Carp's first five games (through Wednesday).