Team Japan announced Monday that Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto will lead its rotation during the World Baseball Classic on March 5. Yamamoto posted a 12-8 record with a 2.49 ERA during the 2025 regular season to earn third place in the National League Cy Young Award balloting,

The general focus and culture of the team isn’t just helping players perform, though. It’s also attracting new faces to the Dodgers. All-Star closer Edwin Diaz revealed his brother Alexis, who played for the Dodgers in 2025, played a role in his move to the NL West.