Tatsuya Imai announces he will skip this year’s World Baseball Classic to focus on helping the Astros win the championship.

Seibu Lions’ top pitcher Tatsuya Imai reached a three-year, $54 million guaranteed deal with the Houston Astros on January 2nd, and the team hosted a press event for his signing today. Unexpectedly, Imai announced at the press conference that to dedicate himself to his debut MLB season and assist the Astros in reclaiming their former glory, he will not participate in the March World Baseball Classic representing Japan. At the event, he also prepared a message in English to greet fans: “Houston, how are you? I’m Tatsuya Imai, and I’m ready to fight for the World Series title. Let’s go, Houston!”

With the Classic set to start in about two months, the defending champion Samurai Japan roster is not yet finalized. When asked if he would join the “Samurai Japan” team, Imai admitted he currently has no plans to participate: “Mainly because the schedule is very tight, especially since this is my first year in the Major Leagues. There are also family considerations; I will prioritize taking care of my family and preparing for the new season, so competing in the Classic is not part of my plans this time.”

Just days before the 45-day negotiation deadline ended, Imai mentioned, “Many teams showed interest, but that doesn’t mean I received contract offers,” hinting that actual offers were limited. He only signed the contract, which was slightly lower than expected and included a postseason opt-out clause, as the deadline approached.

Regarding signing so close to the deadline, Imai confessed, “Before the contract was finalized, I was honestly very anxious and even doubted whether I could play in the Major Leagues; there were many nights I couldn’t sleep well.” He also expressed special thanks to his former NPB team, the Saitama Seibu Lions, who supported his challenge to the MLB, his family who always stood by him, and the agent Scott Boras and his team who provided great assistance during negotiations: “For their sake, I will give my all and strive toward the goal of a world championship.”

Previously wearing number 48 in NPB, Tatsuya Imai will switch to number 45 with the Astros. He explained that since number 48 is already taken on the Astros, he chose 45 inspired by pitchers he admires, Gerrit Cole and Zack Wheeler, who both wear 45, saying, “I hope one day I can be a pitcher worthy of standing alongside them.”