How many Japanese players play in MLB? Listing WBC champions feat. Shohei Ohtani, Lars Nootbar, and more

Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the most competitive baseball leagues in the world. With the rise of baseball's popularity in Japan, many Japanese players have come to the United States to play in the MLB.

The number of Japanese players in America has increased in recent years, and there are currently several Japanese players who are making an impact in the league.

Team Japan managed to win their third World Baseball Classic in 2023 in Miami after beating Team USA in the championship game. The WBC roster featured four players from the MLB, including Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres, Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the new Boston Red Sox acquisition Matasaka Yoshida.

However, besides the four players named on their WBC roster, there are a few other Japanese players playing in Major League Baseball.

The longest playing among these is Minnesota Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda, who has been in the MLB since the 2016 season when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Another player is Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who joined the Seattle Mariners in 2019.

Two more Japanese players are set to make their MLB debuts in the upcoming season: Kodai Senga and Shintaro Fujinami. Senga was signed by the New York Mets in December, while Fujinami was signed by the Oakland Athletics in January. Both players are expected to make their MLB debuts in the coming weeks.

MLB continues to see an influx of Japanese players

Among international players, the highest numbers are players from South America, who constitute a large part of MLB rosters. Japanese players may be lesser in numbers, but they are all big names playing for big teams. One reason for this is the popularity and high level of the Japanese Baseball League.

Currently, the biggest names in Major League Baseball are Japanese icon Shohei Ohtani, while other Team Japan players like Lars Nootbaar and Yu Darvish are also making a name for themselves. Overall, the influx of Japanese talent in the MLB has been a positive development for the league. These players bring a unique style of play and a level of skill that is highly valued by teams. We'll likely continue to see more Japanese players making their way to the majors in the coming years.