Chihiro Kaneko says he doesn't watch many MLB games and doesn't really know much about the players. He might be in store for an MLB crash course this winter.
The Orix Buffaloes ace was one of six players unveiled as members of the Samurai Japan top team, which is scheduled to face a group of MLB stars, during a news conference at a Tokyo hotel on Thursday afternoon. Also named to the team were Kenta Maeda, the Hiroshima Carp's star pitcher; Orix outfielder Yoshio Itoi; Hokkaido Nippon Ham outfielder Sho Nakata; Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto; and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles catcher Motohiro Shima. The rest of the squad will be selected after the NPB season.
"These six that we have chosen will be our central players," Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo said.