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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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Three-time World Baseball Classic champion Samurai Japan will have to go for its second-consecutive title without one of its top projected relievers.
On Thursday, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reported that San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui, who participated in each of the last two WBCs for Team Japan, would miss the event this time around with a groin strain that he recently sustained during a live at-bat session in spring training.
Cassavell also reported that Yumeto Kanemaru, a left-hander for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball, will replace Matsui on the Samurai Japan roster.
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“It’s pretty disappointing,” Matsui said through team interpreter Ike Ogata, per Cassavell. “Especially since I didn’t do so well in the last WBC, and I was looking forward to playing in this one. But that’s not the only thing. It’s baseball. I’m trying to move on, to get the best preparation for the season and to play for the Padres.”
Matsui has a solid 3.86 ERA in his two seasons with the Padres thus far, and would have been a nice weapon to carry against some of the top major league left-handed bats in this tournament in particular. It's also a setback for the Padres, who Cassavell reported are not sure whether Matsui will be ready for opening day.
However, Japan's pitching staff should still be one of the best in the WBC, and though Major League Baseball fans will mainly be familiar with the starters, like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi, most of the bullpen consists of the top shutdown relievers in NPB.
Plus, any team with Shohei Ohtani near the top of its lineup is a threat to take home the ultimate prize.
Team Japan begins its quest to take home the WBC title on March 6 against Team Chinese Taipei.
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