In a recent warm-up game for the World Baseball Classic (WBC), Japan faced off against Chunichi, securing a victory of 7-3. During the game, manager Hirokazu Ibata made a strategic decision in the fifth inning while trailing by one run, when he called for a safety squeeze bunt from eighth batter Sōsuke Genda of the Seibu Lions. Genda had two unsuccessful attempts that resulted in a foul before ultimately striking out. However, Ibata emphasized the importance of practicing such strategies beforehand to ensure players are well-prepared for the actual tournament. He noted that signaling in a high-pressure situation like this helps the entire team understand the different approaches that might be called upon during games.