Only those who have played in the Classic understand! Masahiro Tanaka breaks down the event highlights and names the most watched captain of Team USA, Aaron Judge.

Masahiro Tanaka, the "God’s Son" pitcher of the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball, appeared in Tokyo today (25th) to attend a public event in collaboration with a horse racing information platform. During a fan interaction session, when asked about the key points to watch in the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC) starting this March, Tanaka did not hesitate to single out Team USA’s captain, Aaron Judge.

Tanaka stated that since Judge was promoted to the Major Leagues in 2016, they have played side by side on the Yankees for five consecutive seasons. “I have not only witnessed his tremendous skills as a player but also deeply felt his charismatic personality. Having him serve as captain this time definitely makes him someone to watch closely.”

Reflecting on his own experience in the Classic, Tanaka shared insights as a veteran, pointing out that the challenges of international tournaments go far beyond on-field performance.

Tanaka analyzed, “International competitions have a unique atmosphere. If the team advances, they might play games in the U.S., where adjusting to time differences and climate becomes crucial. Successfully managing physical condition will be a very important factor.” This comment indirectly highlights the comprehensive test the Classic poses on players' mental and physical adaptability.

During his time in the U.S., Tanaka played nine seasons for the Yankees, appearing in 174 games (173 as a starter), achieving a record of 78 wins and 46 losses with an ERA of 3.74. He pitched a total of 1054.1 innings, struck out 991 batters, and accumulated a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 17.3 over his career.