Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki and Texas Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka were the lone major leaguers on the roster when Japan won the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
There were five MLB players on the team when Japan retained the title in 2009.
Japan will most likely see a regression in overseas talent when the team begins its quest to sit atop the baseball world for a third successive time at next year's WBC.