Samurai Japan named its roster for four warmup contests next month, as the national team and manager Hideki Kuriyama continue to work toward the World Baseball Classic in March.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows third baseman Munetaka Murakami and Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki headline the 28-man roster Kuriyama named during a news conference at a Tokyo hotel on Tuesday.
Japan will face the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and Yomiuri Giants at Sapporo Dome on Nov. 5 and 6, respectively, before a pair of games against Australia on Nov. 9 and 10 in warm-up contests for next year’s WBC.