Although the World Series came to an end Sunday night, some Major League Baseball players will be back in action next week as part of the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series. A team of MLB All-Stars will play a series of exhibition games against a team of Japanese All-Stars from Nippon Professional Baseball.
On Monday morning, MLB officially announced their 29-man roster for the All-Star series. Here's the full roster:
PITCHERS (15)
Matt Andriese, Diamondbacks
Scott Barlow, Royals
John Brebbia, Cardinals
Junior Guerra, Brewers
Brian Johnson, Red Sox
Kenta Maeda, Dodgers
Chris Martin, Rangers
Collin McHugh, Astros
Daniel Norris, Tigers
Vidal Nuno, Rays
Dan Otero, Indians
Yusmeiro Petit, Athletics
Erasmo Ramirez, Mariners
Hector Velazquez, Red Sox
Kirby Yates, Padres
CATCHERS (3)
Robinson Chirinos, Rangers
Yadier Molina, Cardinals
J.T. Realmuto, Marlins
INFIELDERS (5)
Whit Merrifield, Royals
Amed Rosario, Mets
Carlos Santana, Phillies
Eugenio Suarez, Reds
Chris Taylor Dodgers
OUTFIELDERS (6)
Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves
Mitch Haniger, Mariners
Enrique Hernandez, Dodgers
Rhys Hoskins, Phillies
Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays
Juan Soto, Nationals
Yes, yes, MLB really stretches the definition of "All-Star" here, especially on the pitching side, but it is the thought that counts. They're sending a team of big leaguers overseas to help promote the game. I'm guessing MLB would've loved to get Angels righty-slash-slugger Shohei Ohtani involved in the event, but his recent Tommy John surgery made it impossible. That's a shame. Maeda pitched eight seasons with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan before coming to MLB.
It's worth noting Brewers outfielder and likely NL MVP Christian Yelich was on the preliminary roster, but has withdrawn for an unknown reason. Even so, the MLB team still has a real fun roster. Acuna and Soto in the same outfield? We'll only see that in All-Star Games. Realmuto is arguably the best catcher in baseball and both Suarez and Merrifield are among the most underrated players in the game. They are bona fide stars. That's quite the roster MLB has there.
Don Mattingly of the Marlins will manage the MLB team and will be joined on the coaching staff by Giants bench coach Hensley Meulens, Mariners hitting coach Edgar Martinez, Astros pitching coach Brent Strom, Nationals bullpen coach Henry Blanco, and Japanese baseball legend and current Yankees advisor Hideki Matsui.
A total of eight games will be played during the 2018 Japan All-Star Series, including one game featuring the MLB team against the Yomiuri Giants, the New York Yankees of NPB. Here are the game dates and locations:
- Nov. 8 vs. Yomiuri Giants in Tokyo
- Nov. 9-11 in Tokyo
- Nov. 13 in Hiroshima
- Nov. 14-15 in Nagoya
The MLB Japan All-Star Series has been played at irregular intervals since 1986. The MLB All-Stars lead the all-time series 48-20, though the NPB All-Stars won three of the five games in 2014. The 2018 event will help serve as a development opportunity for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. MLB Network will broadcast every game live.
