World Baseball Classic 2017: Can Japan get back to winning titles?

From now until the World Baseball Classic begins on March 6, we’ll be helping you get to know each team involved in baseball’s global tournament. Today’s team: Japan.

It’s tough to say Team Japan’s performance in the 2013 World Baseball Classic was a disappointment. The club made it all the way to a Championship Round, losing to Puerto Rico in the semifinals.

For most teams, making the final four would be a tremendous accomplishment. For Team Japan, it was a massive letdown. Prior to 2013, Japan had never experienced failure in the WBC. The team won the whole thing in both 2006 and 2009.

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For the first time ever, Team Japan will have no title to defend as they enter the tournament. After stumbling in 2013, the club will be determined to get back on top.

Given the team’s former success, anything other than a championship will be considered a failure for Japan. That’s an unbelievably high standard for any team to be held to, but Japan is more than capable of accomplishing the task at hand.

Schedule details: Japan will kick things off against Team Cuba on March 7 in Tokyo. That contest will begin at 5 a.m. ET. Japan will then take on Australia on March 8, and China on March 10.

’13 finish: Team Japan was able to make it to the Championship Round of the tournament in 2013. They were one of the final four teams left, but lost to Puerto Rico in the semifinals.

Biggest stars: Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki is the only player on Team Japan with major-league experience. Over five seasons in the majors, he’s hit a solid .286/.353/.387. This will be the third time Aoki has participated in the event.

Notable absence: There are a number of notable absences from Team Japan this year. Ichiro Suzuki, Masahiro Tanaka and Hisashi Iwakuma are all eligible, but none of them will join the roster. Both Tanaka and Iwakuma have an injury history, so that’s likely why they are missing. Ichiro participated in the event in 2006 and 2009, but sat out in 2013.

Perhaps the biggest loss for Team Japan is two-way superstar Shohei Otani. Otani has been the best player in Nippon Professional Baseball over the past few seasons. While he’s exceeded as a pitcher throughout most of his career, he was used as a designated hitter in 2016. Otani excelled in both roles, winning the awards for best pitcher and best DH in the league. He would have easily been Team Japan’s best player had he been able to participate. Instead, Otani will miss the WBC due to an ankle injury.

Player you should get familiar with: Yoshitomo Tsutsugo can hit for a ton of power. The 25-year-old outfielder clobbered 44 home runs in NPB last season, leading the league. He was named to the All-Star team after hitting an exceptional .322/.430/.680 over 561 plate appearances.

Do they have a chance to win? They do. Team Japan won the whole thing in 2006 and 2009. After coming up short in 2013, they will surely be looking to get back on top in 2017. They are more than capable of reaching the championship game again.

THREE BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT JAPAN

Can I still be sad about Otani? Team Japan is going to be good despite the fact that the most exciting international player in recent memory won’t be able to suit up for them. With that said, fans can absolutely be upset that they won’t be able to see Otani in the tournament. Otani is considered a tremendous prospect, the type of player capable of receiving a $200 million contract from a major-league club. His success on the mound and as a hitter makes him the most exciting two-way player since Babe Ruth.

Unfortunately, a new rule in the CBA makes it unlikely Otani will come over to Major League Baseball for a few more seasons. Because of that provision, the WBC was the one chance fans had at seeing Otani against major-league talent. That will have to wait.

Who will emerge this time around? Each year of the tournament, at least one player on Team Japan has emerged as a possible future major-league star. Daisuke Matsuzaka dazzled in 2006, Yu Darvish impressed in 2009 and Kenta Maeda came through in 2013. Who will be the next star that catches the eye of major-league scouts in 2017? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Championship or bust? There’s no other way to put it, anything other than a championship would be a disappointment for Team Japan. It’s not fair to hold any team to that high a standard, but Japan’s past success in the tournament doesn’t leave them with a lot of wiggle room. Thankfully, they have what it takes to get the job done. Japan might not be the favorite in the tournament according to the oddsmakers, but they are still considered a strong contender to take home the win. That high ranking says a lot about the team’s intense dedication and preparation for the tournament. Team USA and Team Dominican Republic are loaded with major-league stars. Japan only has Aoki, but it’s still considered a huge threat to both those clubs.

Also in this series:
—Australia
— Canada
— China
— Chinese Taipei
— Colombia
—Cuba
— Dominican Republic
— Israel
— Italy
— Korea
— Mexico
— Netherlands
— Puerto Rico
— United States
— Venezuela

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik