AFC Champions League" Japan team's 4-game estimation rotation is released! Taiwan team beware of ace left-hander who is in excellent condition

Kanemaru Dream Fight. (File photo, Reuters)

[Special Correspondent Gong Naijie/Reporting from Tokyo, Japan] The 2026 Asian Professional Baseball Championship will kick off tomorrow night. The Taiwan team’s first opponent, the Japanese team, is expected by the Japanese media to be the ace left-hander Yumeto Kanemaru who will start the opening game. Yesterday, he threw 46 pitches on the mound at the Tokyo Dome. He said, "My physical condition is very good. I hope I can make good use of my pitching skills despite the tension."

Yumeto Kanemaru was favored by many Japanese media to have the opportunity to start the opening game. He did not practice pitching in the bullpen yesterday. Instead, in order to find a feeling closer to the game, he went directly to the pitcher mound and threw 46 pitches. He expressed the hope that their generation will serve as the core of the future Japanese team. "For this reason, this tournament is crucial."

Japanese team pitching coach Kurano Shinji also said that Yumeto Kanemaru is in very good condition. "He has also participated in the Classic before. He knows what he should do and his mentality is quite stable. Although it is not yet sure which game he will be on the board, we have high hopes for him."

"Sankei Sports" predicts that the Japanese team will select left-hander Yumeto Kanemaru to start the opening game on the 12th, Kazuzu Takemaru against the South Korean team on the 13th, Seibu Takeuchi Natsuhi as the starter against the Australian team on the 14th, and Hiroyuki Takahashi in the final.