The Japanese national baseball team, Samurai Japan, secured a 5-3 victory against Chunichi in a warm-up game but faced concerns due to the emergency withdrawal of pitcher Osei amid ongoing injuries to the relief squad.
On February 27, Samurai Japan, the Japanese national baseball team, played a warm-up game against Chunichi at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, winning 5-3. The victory included a notable three-run homer by Teruaki Sato from Hanshin. However, the team is facing challenges in the lead-up to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) set to commence in March, especially with the performance of its relief pitchers, who have been afflicted by injuries.
The game saw seven pitchers in action for Japan, but the emergency withdrawal of Osei from the Yomiuri Giants raised alarms regarding the team's depth in the bullpen. As injuries have continued to plague the relief pitching staff, concerns about their fitness and performance levels as they approach the WBC are increasing. Major League players like Shohei Ohtani are expected to join the team starting March 2 for a strengthening match against Orix.
