Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will look to lead Japan to a second straight WBC title.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was among the 7 MLB players that were named to the Japan’s 34-man preliminary roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Joining him on the roster are Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners), Kenji Johjima (Seattle Mariners), Hiroki Kuroda (LA Dodgers), Akinori Iwamura (Tampa Bay Rays), Kosuke Fukudome (Chicago Cubs) and free agent pitcher Takashi Saito.
Japan will look to defend it’s crown as they won the inaugural WBC back in 2006. They will open their defense on March 5th in Tokyo.
Matsuzaka was the MVP of the WBC back in 2006. In three starts, he was 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA.
