Hirokazu Ibata, age 50, who managed the Samurai Japan team at the 6th World Baseball Classic (WBC), has announced his resignation following the end of his contract in May. This news emerged on the 15th, shortly after Samurai Japan was knocked out of the tournament by Venezuela in the quarter-finals, missing the opportunity to secure back-to-back championships following their victory in the 2023 edition. Ibata expressed his hope for the future of Japanese baseball in his post-game presser, stating that while they faced a defeat this time, he wishes the team to become stronger and succeed in the next tournament.